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ANALYSIS OF 

SOME OF THE ANTHRACITES AND IRON ORES 

FOUND ON THE 

y y 

HEAD WATERS OF BEAVER CREEK, 


IN THE COUNTIES OF LUZERNE, NORTHAMPTON AND SCHUYLKILL, PA 


BY WALTER R. JOHNSON, 

Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the Medical Department 

of Pennsylvania College , Philadelphia. 

/r<3r~ 


/ 


FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE. 


In the course of some examinations in the summer of 1838, of the coal 
field lying partly in the county of Luzerne, and partly in Northampton and 
Schuylkill, I was, among other objects of interest, led to observe the ex¬ 
plorations then in progress on the lands belonging to the Summit Coal 
Company and others, lying on the head waters of Beaver Creek, adjoining 
the property of the Beaver Meadow Coal Company. 

As the facts presented by those explorations appeared to afford solutions 
of certain questions relative to the position of the coal beds in that neigh¬ 
bourhood, I was induced to make a collection of such of the minerals as 
appeared important in that view, as well as indicative of the value of the 
coal for economical purposes. 

I should premise that the lands of the Summit Coal Company are situa¬ 
ted mainly on a swell or bluff of land, lying between Pismire mountain on the 
north, and Spring mountain on the south, forming near its eastern extrem¬ 
ity a tapering ridge or “ point hill,” between the north and south forks of 
Beaver creek; and at its western termination constituting a kind of table 
land, nearly as high as the tops of the two mountains above mentioned*. 

The circumstance in the character of the formation just referred to, is 
the general conformity of position in the coal beds in this part of the coal 
field with the prevailing figure of the surface of the ground. This is indi¬ 
cated first by the southerly dip of the beds on the south slope of Pismire 
hill and north of Beaver creek;—secondly, by the northern inclination of 
them where exposed on the north slope of the summit bluff;—thirdly, by 
the horizontal position found to prevail on the summit of the bluff; and 





2 




finally; by the southern dip exhibited on the south slope of’ that bluff, to 
which may be added the northerly inclination of the strata in Spring 
mountain on its northern side. 

The following sketch illustrates the view above given, and as it is derived 
from actual inspection and measurement of the coal strata, where they are 
exposed to view in a cutting formerly made for the railroad leading to the 
mines of the Beaver Meadow Coal Company, affords direct proof of the 
existence of more than one flexure in the Beaver Meadow coal trough. In 
this cutting there is displayed a nearly vertical bed of coal more than 
thirty feet in thickness; having, however, a real position or dip S. 10, E. 
85°, and consequently a course or‘‘strike” N. 80° E. In sinking a shaft in 
this vertical vein to a depth of 60 or 70 feet, it was ascertained that the in¬ 
clination was changed to a northern dip; and the southern inclination at the 
surface of the ground was observed to continue southerly for one or two hun¬ 
dred yards, to a point where a thin seam of coal is seen to be cut through 
ust at the level where it comes to an upward flexure, and after passing to 
the south of that flexure, the whole series of rocks recurs in an inverse 
order from that which had been observed in approaching it. The dip also 
changes at this point from 85° to a much lower southerly inclination. 

The doubling of the strata together is thus indicated, and the flexure of 
the large vein now worked,as exhibited from B to a, is rendered highly 
probable. The faintly marked portion of the figure between O and p rep¬ 
resents the supposed 
away by denudation. 


portion of tire upward flexure which has been carried 



Coal.— 1. Theirs/ specimen of the coal was taken from the opening 
not far from the State road, on the summit of the bluff or central ridge, on 
which the lands of the summit company are mainly situated. It is com¬ 
pact and shining; the black colour slightly inclining here and there to blue- 
black; the surfaces of deposition nearly obliterated, and the cleats or slines 
which generally part coal vertically, scarcely, if at all, perceptible. Hence 
the direction of the fracture appears indifferent, taking place in various 
ways promiscuously, with a form mostly conchoidal. Slight t races of irides¬ 
cence are occasionally seen, indicating the presence of minute portions 
of protosulphuret of iron. 












Its specific gravity is 


3 


1.613 


It contains of water, 

Gaseous matter volatile at bright red heat, . 
Carbon not volatile by simple heat, 

Earthy matter, .... 


3.43 per cent. 
4.08 
87.48 
5.01 


100.00 

The ashes are of a fawn colour, of medium density, and contain the 
following ingredients in 100 parts, viz:— 


Silica, 

Alumina, 
Peroxide of Iron, 
Lime, 

Magnesia, 


54.50 per cent. 
34.45 
7.50 
2.25 
1.30 


100 . 

Having been taken from near the outcrop of the bed, this specimen is to 
be regarded as a rather less favourable sample than would be probably 
found under a greater depth of covering. 

2. The next specimen analyzed was from the northerly slope of the bluff, 
also near the State road. In many of its external characters it resembles 
the preceding, but is less prone to give conchoidal fractures, and its spe¬ 
cific gravity is 1.594. 


It contains of water, . . . .3.26 per cent. 

Other matter volatile at red heat . . 1.05 

Carbon, ..... 91.69 

Earthy matter, .... 4.00 


100.00 


The ashes of this specimen were likewise analyzed, and gave the follow¬ 
ing result, viz; 


Silica, 

Alumina, 
Peroxide of iron, 
Magnesia, 

Lime, 


50.25 

38.90 

8.75 

1.25 


0.85 


100 . 


3. The third variety of this coal which was subjected to analysis, came 
from an opening which was in progress at the period of my visit to the 
Beaver Meadow. It was taken from a shaft then sunk fifteen feet in a bed 
composed partly of black dirt and partly of solid coal. The sample was 
taken from the solid part near the bottom. It is like the foregoing in re¬ 
gard to the obliteration of its surfaces of deposition, has rather less of 
the bluish tinge in its colour, possesses a specific gravity of 1.630, 
and will consequently weigh 2750* lbs. per cubic yard, or nearly 1* ton. 







4 


It contains of volatile matter, . . 9.6 percent. 

Carbon not volatilizable by simple heat, . 85.337 “ 

Earthy matter, .... 5.063 “ 


100 . 

The ashes of this coal are likewise reddish-gray, varying but little in 
complexion from the preceding. The combustible gas given out in the dis¬ 
tillation of this coal is of considerable amount, and indicates it as a fuel 
well adapted for use under steam boilers. 

4. The fourth variety tried was taken from a pit on the north side of 
Beaver creek, and appears to be the third coal bed in the formation, reckon¬ 
ing from below, upwards. The inclination of this bed is to the south, and 
it accordingly dips under the bed of the creek. It is ten feet or more in 
thickness, and presents highly favourable indications as to facility in work¬ 
ing. Its colour in fresh fractures is jet-black, shining. The form of 
fracture irregular, splintery; a striated appearance being occasionally ob¬ 
servable. 

Its specific gravity is 1.560. A cubic foot of it therefore weighs 97£ lbs. 
and a cubic yard 2632s, or about 11 ton. Of this coal two analyses were 
made. Bv the first, I obtained of volatile matter, including 

Water and combustible gases, . . . 6.89 per cent. 

Carbon, not volatile by simple heat, . . 91.64 

Earthy residuum, .... 1.47 


100.00 

The ashes are of a brownish-red colour, tolerably heavy, and have all the 
appearance of being derived from a regular red-ash coal. 

The unusually small proportion of the earthy residuum given by the 
above trial, having induced me to suspect that some error might have oc¬ 
curred and escaped notice, I repeated the trial with the utmost attention, 
taking care to determine, separately, the water and gaseous combustible 
matter. From this repetition, I obtained, 

Volatile mat- i Water, .... 2.19 per cent, 

ter, 6.42 per < Gas, (carbonic oxide, carburetted hydro- 
cent. ( gen, and a little tar,) . . 4.23 

Unvolatilizable carbon, . . . 92.30 

Earthy residuum, . . . # . * 1.^8 


100 . 

From this it appears that the first trial on this sample was not certainly 
below the truth in regard to earthy matter. J 

The diversity between the two experiments is not so great as will often 
occur in trying specimens from the same coal bed. Either maybe re¬ 
garded as highly favourable to the character of the coal. I may be allowed 
further to remark, that of all the trials of anthracites of which I have any 
know edge, either by my own experiments or those of others, the analysis 
just detailed, gave the least proportion of earthy matter, and even of bitu¬ 
minous and cannel coals, I have met with but one result among the many 
on record, which was even so low in the amount of its earthy impurities; 





5 


and yet I have no reason to believe that the sample which I picked up at 
random at the mouth of the pit, was of better quality than the average of 
the mass from which it was taken. 

If the four varieties of coal be viewed together, ranged in the order of 
their specific gravities, beginning with the lowest, we have the following 
table of results :—• 



Sp. gr. 

Vol. mat. 

Carbon. 

Ashes 

1st. (No. 4.) 

1.560 

6.42 

92.30 

1.28 

2d. (No. 2.) 

1.594 

4.31 

91.69 

4.00 

3d. (No. 1.) 

1.613 

7.51 

87.48 

5.01 

4th. (No. 3.) 

1.630 

9.60 

85.337 

5.063 

Mean 

1.599 

6.96 

89.452 

3.838 


From the above table, it will be perceived that the quantity of ashes in¬ 
creases as the specific gravity increases, and that the quantity of fixed 
carbon diminishes as the specific gravity increases. This might possibly 
not be found to hold good in all coal-fields, though I am inclined to think 
that in the same coal-field the relations of different plies will be found to 
confirm the same general law. 

In comparing the results in the above table with those of other experi¬ 
ments on anthracite, I find the average amount of carbon much greater 
than has heretofore been assigned to that species of fuel. 

Thus of twelve species of anthracite analyzed by Berthier, the mean 
per centage of carbon was . . . . 79.15 

Ashes, ..... 13.25 

Volatile matter, .... 7.37—99.71 

It hence appears that while the quantity of volatile matter is widely dif¬ 
ferent from that which I find as the average amount of the same material 
in the coal of the Summit Company, the proportion of ashes is nearly 
three-and-a-half times as great. 

By a mean of seventeen trials on the coal of different beds at Tamaqua, 
Messrs. Bache and Rogers found the proportion of ashes 7.3 per cent., or 
a little less than twice as much as the average of my four analyses of the 
summit coal of Beaver creek. 

No. 5. This specimen was taken from a pit opened on the lands of Cor¬ 
nelius Stevenson, Esq., on the northerly slope of the bluff above described, 
but not far from the top of the ridge. The bed has at this point a northerly 
dip, and consequently confirms the view above given in regard to the gen¬ 
eral arrangement of strata. 

The coal is compact, shining, of a bluish-black; its specific gravity is 
1.6127; a cubic foot of it will weigh 100.79 lbs., and a cubic yard 2721* 
pounds. 

When heated to redness, the specimen which I analyzed, and which was 
taken from the bed only a few feet from the surface of the ground, or out¬ 
crop of the coal, and was consequently more charged with moisture than 
the generality of the coal would be, gave of water at 550°, 5.68 per cent. 
Combustible carbonic oxide, and a little carburetted hy¬ 
drogen expelled at red heat, . . .3.55 

Carbon, not volatilizable by simple heat, . . 86.06 

Earthy matter, ..... 3.71 


100.00 







6 


The ashes of this coal are of a salmon colour, moderately light, and con¬ 
tain the following proportions of their several ingredients, viz: 


Silica, 

. 50.05 per cent, 

Alumina, 

. 29.04 

<< 

Peroxide of Iron, . 

8.75 


Lime, . 

Magnesia, . 

. 1.56 

tt 

1.30 

a 


99.70 



The small proportion of earthy matter found in this coal, with the very 
slight trace of sulphur observable during the combustion, mark it as proper¬ 
ly adapted to the purposes of the founder and iron manufacturer, as well as 
to domestic consumption. I see no reason to doubt, that in all respects it 
will bear a favourable comparison with the best varieties of coal found in 
the district of country in which it lies. Few, if any, anthracite districts 
have fallen under my observation, which possess a less share of earthy in¬ 
gredients. And viewing its relation to the anthracites of other countries, 
we may state that of twelve varieties of that fuel analyzed by M. Ber- 
thier, the result was found to be 

In Carbon , highest .913 lowest, .665 mean, .791 • 

In Ashes , “ .249 “ .027 “ .732 

In Vol. mat. “ .135 “ .022 u .073 


No. 6. This specimen of coal was from the lands of the Buck Mountain 
Coal Company, near the head waters of Laurel run, and at a distance of 
about five miles from the locality of those above described. It is in fact 
in the prolongation of that coal trough, in which the Hazleton and Sugar 
Loaf mines are situated, and is near the south-eastern extremity of the 
deposite. The bed there 
degrees. 

This sample came from the bed twenty-two feet in thickness, lying 
thirty or forty feet above the conglomerate rock which appears to be the 
boundary of the coal formation, and from the lowest ply, except one, in that 
bed. The thickness of this ply is over seven feet. The distance from 
the point where the mine is open, to the mouth of Laurel run, down which 
stream the course of a railroad leading to the Lehigh would lie, is about 
four miles. 

The coal is compact, and of a nearly uniform black colour; shining; frac¬ 
ture uneven, splintery, indifferent in its direction, and seldom conchoidal 
in its form. Though the surfaces of deposition are discernible by the dif¬ 
ferences of colour, there appears to be no tendency to cleavage in the 
direction in which they traverse the coal. Its specific gravity is 1.559, 
and consequently one cubic yard will weigh 2630 pounds. 

Its constituents are,-—wa/er, . . . 0.390 per cent. 

Gaseous matter, including some azote, volatile at? ■ « t{ 

bright red heat, . . . ^ o.olo 

Carbon, not volatilizable by heat, . . 91.016 <c 

Earthy matter and oxide, . . . 3.079 “ 


100 . 


dips to the north in an angle of about fourteen 


The ashes are of a reddish-buff colour, rather light, and present some 




7 


portions perfectly white. They yielded on 
tuents, viz: 

Silica, 

Alumina, 

Peroxide of Iron, 

Lime, 

Magnesia, 


analysis the following consti- 

. 45.60 per cent. 

42.75 “ 

9.43 “ 

1.41 “ 

. . 0.33 " 


99.52 

The proportion of ashes in this coal is much below that of the average of 
the anthracites of Pennsylvania. Few even in that part of the central coal 
district, in which the Buck Mountain Company’s lands are situated, will 
be found to yield either less earthy matter, or more fixed carbon, than the 
sample above analyzed. 

Iron Ores.*—t The bed of iron ore from which the samples that I have ex¬ 
amined were taken, is found on the southern declivity of the bluff, about 
forty rods northerly from the south fork of Beaver Creek, and judged to be 
about three-quarters of a mile from the Beaver Meadow Rail-road. With 
this road the locality *can be connected at a very little expense by a branch 
road. Above the bed of ore is a seam of black dirt of considerable thickness, 
judged to be the remains of a bed of coal which may possibly be found unal¬ 
tered at no great distance. 

The thickness of the bed of ore and shale is seven feet, and it lies 
seventeen feet beneath the surface of the ground at the point where it is 
opened. The inclination of the bed is to the south, but apparently less rapid 
than that of the surface of the hill, so that if the dip observed in the shaft 
be maintained for any considerable distance below the present opening, there 
is reason to suppose that it would crop out before coming to the border of 
the creek. The covering is composed of 

3 feet of Earth—-surface soil, 

6 Black Dirt, 

8 “ Slate, 

7 “ Ore and Slate, 

1 inch of Coal, 

17 feet of Sandstone. 

The first variety which was analyzed gave.by the usual assay in the dry 
way, the following composition, viz: 

Water expelled at 250°, . . . 00.4 per ct. 

Carbonic Acid, .... 26.6 u 

Cast Iron, .... . 33.8 “ 

Earthy matter, .... 26.64 

Oxygen, ..12.55 “ 


99.99 

This variety of the ore has a light bluish ash colour, is moderately tough 
before calcination, and possesses a specific gravity of 3.247; consequent¬ 
ly, a cubic yard of it would weigh 5469 lbs. or 2.44 tons. 

The pig metal given in the above assay is soft, tough, and of a dark gray 
colour, apparently well suited for foundery purposes. 

The cinder is a transparent, nearly colourless, glass,—very fusible and 
contains but few adhering particles of metal. 

The employment of pure carbonate of lime as a flux in the proportion of 




8 


one part of this metal to six parts of raw mine will produce a complete re¬ 
duction of the ore and fusion of the earthy ingredients. In using the anthra¬ 
cite No. 5, above described, a small addition of limestone, to the amount of 
one per cent, of the coal employed, may be found requisite in order to insure 
an equally complete fusion of the earthy residuum of the fuel. Assayed in 
the humid way this ore yields the following results, viz: 


Water, 

Carbonate of Iron, 
Carbonate of Lime, 
Carbonate of Magnesia, 
Oxide of Magnesia, 
Silica, 

Alumina, 


per ct. 
00.40 
. 63.20 

. . 2.50 

. 2.2 7 

2.00 
. 17.50 

10.55 


98.42 


The above quantity of carbonate corresponds to 39.1 per cent, of protox¬ 
ide, or 30.45 per cent, of pure metallic iron which is 3.35 per cent, below 
the above yield in pig metal , or it is 9.9 per cent, of the pig metal itself, to 
be regarded as pure iron matter; which is probably very near the true ave¬ 
rage amount according to the latest and best analyses. The yield in iron is 
equal to the averaged" Scotch ores in the neighbourhood of Glasgow.*—The 
latter have a specific gravity of 3.209, according to Dr. Colquhoun. This 
ore which is the blue clay iron-stone of the coal measures, has therefore the 
specific gravity, the degree of richness, and the fusibility of the same class 
of ores found in bituminous coal fields, and there is no doubt, in my mind, that 
it may be easily and profitably worked. 

The second variety of the ore examined, was a sample from the same 
locality, but from a different part of the bed from that in which the pre¬ 
ceding was found. It is of a reddish-brown colour, except the exterior, 
which is yellowish-red. 

The specific gravity of this variety is 2.896. 


Assayed in the dry way & it gave, Water , 

Pig metal , 
Earthy matter, 
Oxygen, 


13.12 per cent. 
44.96 “ 

24.804 “ 

17.11 “ 


99.994 

Of the earthy impurities, there were found insoluble in acids 18.55 per 
cent. The ore now under consideration, has apparently undergone a 
change by atmospheric influences, from the condition of a carbonate of the 
protoxide of iron to that of a hydrate of the peroxide; it is not remarkable 
that in passing from one of these states to the other, some of the earthy 
ingredients should have been washed away. The usual tests of lime failed 
to detect that substance. The cinder had a smoky-gray colour, translucid 
on the edges, and was a compact glass, moderately fusible. 

As the appearance of the cinder indicated, particularly when tested be¬ 
fore the blow pipe, and by acid, that some portions of metallic oxide still 
remained in it, an analysis of this ore was also made in the humid way, 
which gave the following results, viz: 




9 


Water, .... 
Peroxide of Iron , with trace of manganese, 
Silica, . . . Q 

Alumina, .... 
Magnesia, ...» 


13.12 per cent 

63.65 

« 

13.45 

u 

8.77 

a 

1.01 

n 


100 . 


The quantity of peroxide of iron corresponds to 44.55 per cent, of iron , 
or .41 per cent, less than that of the metal actually obtained. Hence it 
appears that the quantity of iron remaining in the cinder is very nearly 
equal to that of the carbon, &c. in the pig metal. 

There seems, from all the above statements, to be no reason to doubt 
that when brought into use, this ore will prove every way competent to 
sustain a character equal to that of any other argillaceous carbonate of 
iron, whether of the bituminous, or the anthracite coal districts. I am not 
aware that the samples which I took from the mouth of the pit were other 
than fair representatives of the general character of the bed from which 
they were raised. It is probable that when explored so far as to be under 
an extensive solid covering, it will be found to correspond more nearly to 
the character indicated by the former than to that given by the latter of the 
above analyses. 

Near the second bed of coal opened on the slope of the hill north of the 
northern branch of Beaver creek, I found some iron ore thrown out in ex¬ 
cavating a coal shaft. It was all in the state of brown hydrate, and though 
too much exposed near the surface to allow of the formation of any just 
estimate of its quantity in the solid part of the bed, where, doubtless, it 
will be found in the state of a carbonate, yet the size of the specimens 
which I observed, and their structure, led me to suppose that it could not 
belong to a trivial, or chance, deposite. This opinion is strengthened by the 
fact that a bed of seven feet in thickness of iron ore and iron slates is found, 
as already described, on the opposite side of the bluff, and not more than 
a mile distant. 

The ore submitted to analysis, is of a brown, or yellowish-brown, colour, 
compact, with small shining particles. Its specific gravity is 3.555. 


At a temperature of 330° it loses in moisture. 
By strong calcination, it loses of water, 

It contains of Peroxide of iron, 

Earthy impurities, 


0.55 per cent. 
10.048 “ 

71.12 “ 

18.382 “ 


100 . 


Of the earthy matter, 13 per cent, are insoluble in acids, being chiefly 
silica, and 5.382 per cent, are alumina and magnesia* no lime was detect¬ 
ed* and but a trace of manganese. 

The quantity of pig metal obtained in my analysis was 49.77 per cent.; 
its colour dark gray* structure crystaline, granular. It was soft, tough, 
and well adapted,for foundery purposes. The cinder was a perfect glass, 
translucent on the edges, of a smoky colour, readily fusible before the 
blow-pipe, and, consequently, it presents no obstacle to the free running of 
iron in a furnace. The result of this trial is such as in my opinion, to 
justify a careful examination to ascertain the quantity of ore to be obtained 
in this locality. Being in the immediate vicinity of the richest of the 




10 


coals above described, it will be a highly valuable resource, if it shall be 
found in beds of such thickness, and with such accompaniments, as to 
render its attainment not too expensive. This point will be determined 
only by actual searches. 








SEGTIONorMUSHANNON HILL*^?KARTHAUS. 




































































































































































































REPORT 


OF 


AN EXAMINATION 


OF THE 


MINES, IRON WORKS, AND OTHER PROPERTY BELONGING TO 


THE 


CLEARFIELD COKE AND IRON COMPANY, 


TOGETHER 

WITH S03IE EXAMINATIONS OF TIIE MINERALS EMPLOYED IN THE 
MANUFACTURE OF IRON FOUND AT KARTHAUS AND 
THREE RUNS, ON THE WEST BRANCH OF 
THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER : 

ACCOMPANIED BY A SECTION OF THE MINERAL GROUND. 


BY WALTER R. JOHNSON, A. M., 

LATE PROFESSOR OF MECHANICS AND NATURAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LYDIA R. BAILEY, PRINTER, NO. 26 NORTH FIFTH STREET. 

1839. 


m 


























































































■ . i. 


























Philadelphia, November 2, 1838. 


TO THE CLEARFIELD COKE AND IRON COMPANY. 
Gentlemen - , 

Agreeably to your request, I have visited the scene of your 
operations in the manufacture of iron with coke at Karthaus, 
on the West Branch of the Susquehanna river. 

The view expressed by you in proposing this examination, 
was to ascertain as far as practicable the condition, advan¬ 
tages, and prospects of the position for the purpose of prosecu¬ 
ting on an extended scale the manufacture of iron in its various 
branches. 

In endeavouring to ascertain the present condition of the 
place, I have sought information relative to the furnace-stack 
and appurtenances, the blowing and the heating apparatus, 
the amount of minerals now ready for use, the quantity of blast 
which the stream could supply, the state of the underground 
workings, the means of supplying minerals, the accommodations 
for miners, furnace labourers, and others. 

The furnace-stack is apparently in good condition. Some 
fissures of no great importance are visible, which may gene¬ 
rally be found in similar establishments. The in-walls appear to 
be good. The hearth is removed, and stones enough are now 
quarried near the furnace to replace it. The labour of dressing 
these stones will probably require eight or ten days to complete 
it. The stone used is a yellowish white, coarse fossilliferous 
sandstone, lying underneath most of the beds of coal, the colour 
being probably due to an admixture of oxide of iron. Very 
large carbonized vegetable fossils are occasionally met with in 
working the stone. The tw r o circumstances just mentioned, ap¬ 
pear to me unfavourable to the durability of this stone in the 
fire, though not easily affected by mechanical agencies. 

The height of the stack is forty-five feet, the diameter of 
boshes thirteen feet. The height of the lintels from the top of 


4 


the stone constituting the false bottom is ten feet. This on the 
side of the cast-house, brings it rather too near the fire in scaf¬ 
folding out, &c., and has caused the plate to be heated, and to 
yield in some measure to the weight above. As the bottom 
stone will be raised by the contemplated insertion of the hot 
air-pipe beneath it, I think it may be found advantageous to 
raise the lintel eighteen inches, which can be done with great ease 
and without much expense, as it does not extend far into the wall. 

The stack is arranged for three tuyeres, and the plan of in¬ 
troducing the hot blast now in progress of execution, contem¬ 
plates the use of one heating oven on the Calder plan, to furnish 
hot air for all three of the tuyeres. 

The casting-house and bridge-house, are both in sufficiently 
good condition to prosecute operations. The water-wheel 
would be improved by calking the joints of the soling; and the 
building which contains it and the blowing machinery, requires 
to be more effectually covered in order to defend it from cold 
in winter, and to allow the application of a heating apparatus 
to secure it completely from freezing. 

The oven for hot air is completed so far as the same can 
be done without the iron pipes. The present mode of connect¬ 
ing the blowing cylinders with the tuyeres, is through conduits 
of wood, formed in part by plank and in part by logs hollowed 
out into tubes in two semi-cylindrical portions, adjusted and 
bound together with iron hoops. This method is found very 
defective in consequence of the porousness of the wood, and its 
liability to shrink or expand by alternations and variations of 
heat and moisture. A short section of from sixteen to twenty 
feet of twelve inch cast iron pipe, wmuld obviate the necessity 
of using a wooden pipe altogether. 

I made observations on the action of the blowing machine, 
which, with the whole force of the stream supplied by the run, 
was found capable of discharging through a 4| inch nozzle, 
and through the various leaks of the wooden pipes, 4,700 cubic 
feet of air per minute. The pressure was not however noted; 
and for reasons sufficiently obvious in the condition of the 
wooden pipes, it was evident that this result could be consider¬ 
ed as only approximate. 

There is no doubt in my mind, that the water-wheel is abun- 


5 


dantly sufficient to produce the effect required of it in blowing 
this furnace, and the refinery fire about to be put into action. 
An improvement in the dam which would save a considerable 
quantity of water now lost by leakage, would insure this result 
at all seasons. This improvement might be made at an expense 
of from one to three hundred dollars. The blowing cylinders, 
sixty-two inches in diameter by six feet length of stroke, are in 
good order and well established, but the packings of the pistons 
and valves require to be re-examined and adjusted before again 
putting the furnace in action. 

The amount of materials now mined, # and either ready for 
use at the tunnel head of the furnace, or lying on the bank, was 
stated to me by the mine manager to be as follows, viz. 

Coke, 39,642 bushels, 

Iron ore, 2,080 tons, 

Limestone, 500 tons. 

Admitting that the furnace makes, when running with a fair 
yield, 63 tons of pig-metal per week, the above mentioned ma¬ 
terials would probably last for the following times, viz. 

The Coke, 55 days, 

Limestone, 55 days, 

Iron ore, 77 days. 

A large quantity of small coal has resulted from the mining 
operations, a part of which can be employed for calcining the 
ore, and the remainder be used for coking in ovens, whenever 
these shall have been erected. The value of this material should 
not be lost sigdit of in estimating!; the condition of the establish- 
ment. The coal and ore mines and the limestone quarries are 
all opened on the face of the hill in which they are found, oppo¬ 
site to that on which the furnace is situated. This circumstance 
and the present mode of transportation, requires the materials 
to be hauled on a circuitous, descending road nearly to the level 
of the river for one mile, and then hauled for one-fourth or 
one-third of a mile upward to the tunnel head of the furnace—• 
a vertical elevation of from fifty to sixty feet. 

The openings are well executed, and the drifts so arranged 
that the materials can be supplied in any quantity required for 
the establishment. 

* These quantities have been greatly increased since the date of this Report, 


6 


The six feet vein of coal, from which the fuel has hitherto 
been derived, is among the most commodious beds of bitumi¬ 
nous coal which have fallen under my observation—with but 
little useless matter, a good roof, and little or no water to im¬ 
pede the operations of the miner. An opening of this bed has 
recently been made nearer to the furnace than any hitherto 
worked, and which can supply the whole demand of the estab¬ 
lishment. An opening has also been made, but not worked, on 
one of the ore beds on the side of the hill next to the furnace. 

All the materials may, for ought I can discover, be as well 
taken out on this side of the hill as on the opposite. 

The accommodations for miners and others about Karthaus, 
of which the Company have the use, are comprised in twenty- 
two houses, including two which are used as boarding-houses, 
and one partly used as a store. Of these, six new miners’ houses 
are on a tract of 170 acres of land belonging to the Company, 
immediately adjoining the Karthaus property, and more con¬ 
veniently situated for the accommodation of the miners than 
any others in the place, being on the level of the mine openings. 

The stable near the furnace is judged to be insufficient for 
as many horses as the present system of hauling the minerals 
would require, especially if the coal in its raw state were taken 
to the tunnel head to be coked. There are but few horses or 
other animals belonging to the Company, and the same is true 
of the common wagons. 

The work of hauling is understood to have been done by 
contract, at the rate of from fifty to sixty cents per ton. If the 
furnace were in full action, making as above supposed 03 tons 
per week, there would be required per annum 26,015 tons of 
the different materials, which, at the lowest of the above rates, 
would cost for hauling, 13,007 dollars. 

The advantages of Karthaus, as a position for the manufac¬ 
ture of iron on a large scale, are chiefly found in the abundance 
of all the materials, and their immediate proximity to each other, 
and to a stream which supplies a competent water power for 
driving machinery. To render these circumstances efficient 
and profitable, advantage ought, as it appears to me, to be 
taken of the great facilities which the height of the ground in 
which the minerals lie, affords for carrying them by the mere 
force of gravity to the spot where they are to be used. 


7 


A conviction of the importance of this subject, has led me to 
compare the expense of hauling by contract with two other 
methods which may be adopted. 

For this purpose I ascertained the first cost and the annual 
expense, first, of the necessary teams, including horses, wagons, 
gears, and drivers; and secondly, of a self-acting inclined plane 
on the slope of the hill from the level of the highest mineral bed 
to that of the tunnel head of the furnace, and of the roads to 
connect it with the latter as w r ell as with the mouth of the drift. 
In the latter case the price of some additional cars was also 
taken into the account. 

The plan of maintaining at the Company’s own 
expense the necessary teams, will require an im¬ 
mediate expenditure of 

That of making the inclined plane, rail-road, and 
cars, with the keeping of three mules or horses 
to draw empty cars, - 

Making a difference in first cost, in favour of the 
former, of. 

The annual expense, however, of maintaining the 
former of these systems, including the pay of 
teamsters, the support of horses, the renewal 
of wagons and worn-out horses, the repair of 
wagons and gears, and the interest on first cost, 
will be - -- -- -- 

The annual expense of the inclined plane, cars, 
plane managers, and all others required to work 
the system, with the interest on first cost and 
the allowance for repairs to the road and cars, 

Showing an annual difference in favour of the lat¬ 
ter system, of. 

From the above statement, it appears that the haul¬ 
ing of the minerals by contract, is more expen¬ 
sive than it would be by the Company’s own 
teams and common wagons, by the sum of 
And more expensive than the inclined plane by 


$ 3,340 00 

5,321 00 
$1,981 00 


$ 10,223 00 

3,363 00 
$6,860 00 

$2,714 00 
9,652 00 






8 


The estimate for a rail-road is made upon a basis at which 
contracts can at any time be obtained for executing the work. 
The total distance from the bank where the ore is now roasted 
at the tunnel head of the furnace, to the new opening above 
designated in the large coal bed, and which is the most remote 
point to be reached by the rail-road, is only 2,226 feet, or 
about two-fifths of a mile. From this it will appear that the 
inclined rail-road is estimated at 12,600 dollars per mile, which 
for this purpose is believed to be amply sufficient, since all the 
timber for the construction can probably be obtained within 
half a mile of the line, and the labour of grading is quite insig¬ 
nificant. The bridge across the creek will be built on tressels, 
ten feet apart, and on this the part of the rail-road adjoining 
the furnace will be laid. This improvement being adopted, 
the calculated expense of making a ton of pig-metal will be 
reduced to $12 87. 

The expense of making a ton of iron, has been thus calcu¬ 
lated. 

The quantity of materials required for one ton of pig-metal, 
has been found by experience to be as follows, viz. 

3 Tons of raw mine, 

83 Tons of raw coal, 

1 Ton of limestone. 

The mining of the ore costs, on an average, $ 1 75 
per ton, and three tons cost - 
The mining of the coal costs, on an average, 70 
cents per ton, and 3i tons cost 
The mining of the limestone costs $1 12 ^ per 
ton, -------- 

Hauling, by the Company’s own teams, 7 i tons, 
at 38.6 cents per ton, - 

Furnace labour, 13 hands, at an average price of 
$1 40 each per day, the furnace supposed to 
make 9 tons per day, or 63 tons per week, - 
Add for compensation of mine manager, furnace 
manager, and all other hands not included in 
the above estimate,. 


$5 25 
2 45 
1 12 ^ 
2 89 \ 

2 00 

1 00 


Amount carried forward, 


814 72 



9 


Amount brought forward, $ 14 72 

•Should the system of transportation recommended 
in this Report be adopted, it is calculated that a 
saving of 24.6 cents per ton will be effected 
upon all the minerals, reducing thereby the ex¬ 
pense of the ton of pig-metal by - 1 84^ 

And consequently bringing its cost to - $ 12 87 

as above stated. - 

The reducing of pig-metal to malleable iron, and the means 
of making bar and plate iron, have no doubt occupied the atten¬ 
tion of the Company. The refinery partly completed for this 
purpose near the furnace, will afford an opportunity of testing 
the value of the stock of pig-iron, amounting to 700 or 800 tons, 
already manufactured and lying near the furnace. Though pos¬ 
sessing in its present state the properties of hardness and brittle¬ 
ness, characteristic of white or high iron, this does not neces¬ 
sarily result from the quality of the materials found at Karthaus, 
excellent gray iron having been made there;* but even were it 
so, it w T ould not prove its inferiority to other establishments for 
the manufacture of bar-iron. 

Experiment has proved that bar-iron manufactured from 
white pig, is rather superior than otherwise to that made from 
mottled gray or black, if the whiteness be not due to noxious 
ingredients. 

Some of the most celebrated varieties of bar-iron in this 
country, are made from high iron. In the refining process, all 
pig-metal assumes more or less the state of white metal. In Eu¬ 
rope, iron of this description is converted into articles demand¬ 
ing the greatest tenacity. 

Before leaving the subject of the Karthaus property, I should 
remark that the new openings of both ore and coal above the 
furnace near the turnpike, have exhibited abundant supplies of 
both materials, which can be easily mined and brought to the 
tunnel head by a continuous descent. The land is too low to 
possess the upper thick vein of coal found at the old workings, 

* Since writing the above, the various ores have been analysed, and it has been 
ascertained that the whiteness has been produced by the use of ore from a bed 
that was not known to exist when the gray metal was made. 

B 




10 


but the quality of that which is obtained is good; and the slightly 
enhanced cost of extracting it will be thrice counterbalanced 
by the reduced expense of hauling from this place rather than 
the other. The proposed rail-road may thus be rendered less 
necessary. 

The property of the Company adjoining Karthaus, immedi¬ 
ately below on the river, having above a mile of river-front, con¬ 
taining about 15S acres, with all the mineral beds of value, both 
of iron ore, coal, and limestone found at Karthaus, except the 
upper vein of coal which appears to have been washed away 
from this part of the ground, is well situated for an iron estab¬ 
lishment, embracing both furnaces and forges. The southern 
extremity of the property is formed by a low projecting point 
of land, round the extremity of which the river flows over a 
considerable descent, forming what is called “ Tinker’s Ripple.” 
Along the brink of the stream lies a bank of earth some fifteen 
or twenty feet high, and of various width, separated by a na¬ 
tural canal or race from the rocks behind it, and affording an 
opportunity, by a little labour, to form a mill-race through which 
any desirable portion of the water of the river might at all sea¬ 
sons be made to pass. The fall here attainable, is judged to be 
not less than from eight to twelve feet, and the site is well 
adapted for a rolling-mill or common forge. 

A cleared and pretty well cultivated farm lies in the rear of 
this property, w^hich it is believed can be bought at a reason¬ 
able price, and which would afford a considerable amount of 
agricultural supplies to the establishment. Being in general 
about at the level of the limestone bed in the formation, the soil 
is highly propitious to vegetation. 

In conformity wdth your request, I visited the property at 
Three Runs, and found the situation certainly not less advan¬ 
tageous than Karthaus, for the location of iron works. It has 
all the varieties of minerals found at the former, in apparently 
much greater amounts, owing to the quantity of land over which 
they extend. The six feet vein of coal is probably under about 
eighty or ninety feet of cover; and the fall of the river between 
this point and Karthaus, a distance of six miles, is such as to 
have revealed a lower vein of nodular or ball ore, which at 
Karthaus is below the bed of the stream. 

This property enjoys nearly three miles of river-front, receives 


two 01 Uie uiiov. from which the place derives us name, 
has nearly one hundred acres of slope or bottom land, affording 
a good site for a town or village; has the whole length of But¬ 
termilk Falls, extending round a point very similar to that already 
described at “ Tinker’s Ripple,” but with a fall of at least fifteen 
feet; of the whole of which advantage may be taken through a 
natural race-way, precisely similar to the one already mentioned. 
Each of the two runs will be valuable for many mechanical 
purposes, but is not such a stream as I would recommend for 
driving the blowing machinery of a blast furnace. For this 
service, the moving power ought to be subject to as little varia¬ 
tion as possible, or to be at least capable of complete regulation. 

I see no dfficulty in the way of erecting here, when means 
shall be provided, three or four blast furnaces, so near each 
other as to derive their blast from the same machine. 

I would remark, that the land at Three Runs is well timber¬ 
ed, and that the larger of the two streams on the Company’s 
property would afford eligible sites for saw and grist mills, 
which I consider indispensably necessary to such an establish¬ 
ment as is contemplated at the point in question. The water¬ 
wheel first erected at Ivarthaus would be adequate to one of 
these purposes, or to any other within the limits of its capacity, 
and might easily be removed to such a situation as the case 
might demand. 

It has not unfrequently been mentioned, as an objection to 
Karthaus, that it is difficult of access, remote from market, 
and in a region where supplies are not easily attainable. It is 
twenty-seven miles by the turnpike from Bellefonte, or twenty- 
five from Milesburg, the present termination of the Bald Eagle 
navigation, which furnishes from that point a continuous water 
communication, through the state works and tide canal, with 
tide-water at Havre de Grace. 

The distance to tide by this route is two hundred and forty- 
seven miles. The distance from tide to the mouth of the Sinne- 
mahoning, is two hundred and thirty miles by the course of the 
river, and the lockage six hundred and seventy-eight feet. To 
this point the West Branch Canal is now placed under con¬ 
tract, and in the course of execution. 

From the mouth of the Sinnemahoning to Three Runs, the dis- 


12 


tance by the course of the river is fourteen miles, and to Kar~ 
thaus twenty miles; hence Karthaus is two hundred and fifty 
miles from tide-water, and on a stream which is descended by 
rafts and arks in immense numbers at high stages of the river. 
The grade of a rail-road, from Three Runs to Sinnemahoning, 
would not probably exceed, if it even equalled, six feet to the 
mile; and the grading would present no difficulties comparable 
to those which are encountered on the public works in many 
other places. I state this from information. When the Erie 
Rail-road shall have been completed, a rail-road from Three 
Runs to the mouth of the Sinnemahoning, will afford a direct 
connexion between that point and the great lake country of the 
north-west. The completion of the canal to Pittsburg, by Mr. 
Aycrigg’s route, will open that important market to the produc¬ 
tions of the establishment, besides which the Williamsport and 
Elmira Rail-road will give a direct communication with the 
State and City of New York. 

It has been stated to me, that goods can be taken in arks 
from Karthaus to tide, for four dollars per ton, all expenses 
included, and that the season of running arks is five or six 
weeks in the year upon an average. Thus it appears that pro¬ 
per arrangements being made, the bituminous coal field of the 
great Clearfield, or West Branch Basin, will be opened to New 
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, the Valley of the Mississippi, and 
the immense regions bordering on the lakes. To all these it 
can send rail-road and other iron, over iron roads from its own 
rolling-mills. 

The remoteness from the source of supplies is a temporary 
inconvenience only, not a natural impediment to the prosperity 
of the place. There is much good land already under cultiva¬ 
tion, within a short distance of the establishment, and a vast 
region of heavily timbered ground, which only awaits the hand 
of improvement to make it abundantly productive. Should 
the Company once establish a well stocked store, and be ena¬ 
bled to supply the adjacent country with iron, and other manu¬ 
factures, there is no doubt that supplies would flow in upon 
them far beyond their necessities. 

From observation and inquiry, I am satisfied that a much 
more eligible line for a road, between the Three Runs and 


13 


the Valley of the Bald Eagle, by way of Beach Creek, might 
be opened, than that furnished by the Snow-shoe and Karthaus 
turnpikes. Such a road would lead through the Boudinot lands, 
and be of immense importance to the interests of the City of 
Philadelphia. 

I will now state some of the improvements which my visit 
has suggested, in the arrangement and accommodations of the 
establishment. 

1. The completion of the apparatus for the hot-blast. 

2. Substitution of iron conducting-pipes for those of wood. 

3. Hempen or metallic packing, for the blowing-cylinders. 

4. Finishing the refinery. 

O J 

5. Construction of a good cupola for making the castings 
required by the Company. 

6. An inclined-plane and connecting rail-roads to the mines. 

7. Repair of the dam at Karthaus, and an increase of its 
height. 

8. A furnace on the Company’s property, just below Karthaus. 

9. A forge, with the requisite number of fires, at “ Tinker’s 
Ripple.” 

10. A rolling-mill, with the necessary puddling-furnaces, and 
an air-furnace for making rail-road iron, &c., at Buttermilk Falls. 

11. A shop, for making the necessary machinery. 

12. Four furnaces at Three Runs, blown by one steam engine. 

13. A saw-mill and grist-mill at Three Runs, which will 
pay their own cost and expenses. 

14. A good store for country customers, as well as to sup¬ 
ply the works. 

15. A good house for the accommodation of travellers and 
visitors. 

16. A respectable agent’s house, and some additional houses 
for miners. 

17. A farm to be cleared on the flats at Three Runs. 

18. An assaying-furnace, and small chemical apparatus for 
testing materials. 

To these items I may add, that a bridge across the river at 
Karthaus is believed to be all that is now necessary to com¬ 
plete the turnpike communication between Bellefonte and 
Smethport, on which Karthaus would be the most important 
intermediate point. 


14 


Oats 

Corn 

Wheat 

Rye 

Pork 

Mutton 

Veal 

Beef 


(( 


a 


a 


a 


a 


a 


a 


u 


a 


a 


a 


u 


a 


u 


a 


a 


a 


a 


a 


u 


per pound. 


u 


ii 


ii 


To accomplish all these purposes, a sum within the legal 
limits of the Company’s capital will, I think, prove amply suffi¬ 
cient; especially as nearly all the improvements are of such a 
nature as to be produced on the spot, and out of the materials 
of their own manufacture. 

The reply to my inquiries, relative to the prices of provisions 
at Karthaus, was that, in general, 

Potatoes cost 50 cents per bushel. 

50 
75 
125 
100 
8 

7 

8 
G 

By procuring the above articles in large quantities, and at 
proper seasons, especially where they can be brought in upon 
the snow in winter, a large deduction from the above prices 
could in general be obtained. 

The method of blowing in the furnace, heretofore practised, 
has involved a considerable expense of time and money, which 
may be spared by commencing the blast with charcoal, and 
charging at once with all the minerals; a method pursued with 
entire success in other places. To this method the Company 
are in a manner invited, by the immense supply of wood which 
must be cut down to make way for their improvements. By 
this, and the various other means of concentrating and econo¬ 
mizing their operations, the works above designated can in my 
opinion be prosecuted to such a profit as to answer all reason¬ 
able expectations. 

A liberal but enlightened expenditure of capital in such a 
situation, can hardly fail to meet an abundant reward. Nature 
has done all in her power to make the situation favourable, and 
has beckoned man to the fulfilment of his part of the duty by 
indications not to be either mistaken or disregarded. 

I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

WALTER R. JOHNSON. 


15 


Analysis of Minerals. 

Since the foregoing Report was rendered, I have made an 
examination of some of the ores, coals, and limestones found 
at Karthaus Place and Three Runs, from which I am enabled 
to present the following statement: 

COAL. 

The bed of coal chiefly relied on at Karthaus for making 
iron, is the upper or main bed, six feet thick, which lies SO feet 
below the surface of the summit of Mushannon Hill, and 407.94 
feet above the level of Susquehanna river, as represented in 
the accompanying Section. 

This coal I find has a specific gravity of from 1.250 to 1.278. 
It loses in water, during the process of dis¬ 
tillation, ------- 0.6 per cent. 

It loses in carburetted hvdrogen and other 
volatile products, ----- 26.2 

The earthy residuum, after complete incine¬ 
ration, is.5.05 

Carbon in the coke, - 68.15 

100 . 

The coke is of medium hardness, and in all respects well adapt¬ 
ed to the production of iron. The earthy residuum is com¬ 
posed of silex, alumina, and oxide of iron, with a portion of 
lime and a little magnesia. 

IRON ORES. 

Ten assays have been made on the ores found on the Com¬ 
pany’s grounds, of which four were on that of the “ Kidney 
vein,” at Karthaus, two on that of the “ Red vein,” and four on 
the ores of different beds at Three Runs. 

The “ Kidney vein” ore is found in different parts of a bed, 
marked on the accompanying Section of Mushannon Hill as No. 
15, at an elevation of 344^ feet above the level of the Susque¬ 
hanna river. It is 11 feet in thickness, composed of ferrugi¬ 
nous and carbonaceous slate, with reniform and some strati¬ 
fied portions of argillaceous iron-ore diffused through it, in all 
amounting to about 26 inches of ore. This ore-bed has a stra- 



16 


turn of coal one foot thick below, and another 3.16 feet thick 
immediately above it. 

The ore is an argillaceous carbonate of iron, or clay iron¬ 
stone of the miners. 

Its specific gravity is from 3.206 to 3.397, varying with the 
part of the bed from which the specimen is taken. 

Its colour is a bluish-gray; fracture splintery, and occasion¬ 
ally conchoidal—the exterior of weathered specimens covered 
with a coat of yellowish-brown hydrate of iron. 

1. The first assay on a specimen having a specific gravity of 
3.397, conducted in the dry way, gave— 

Of water, at 320 degrees, - - - 1.2 per cent. 

Loss in carbonic acid, by calcination at a red 

heat, - 26.68 

Metallic iron, ------ 38.33 

Earthy impurities, silica, alumina, &c., - 16.67 

The pig-metal obtained in this analysis was of a mottled- 
gray complexion; its internal structure granular, crystalline, 
moderately tough, and of rather more than medium hardness; 
it is, however, readily acted on by the file; its specific gravity 
was found to be 7.726. The cinder indicated that no metallic 
oxide remained, or, in other words, that the maximum yield of 
iron had been obtained. 

2. This trial was on a portion of the ore of the same bed as 
the preceding, but the specimen selected was a part of the shell 
of the carbonate, which in the outcrop assumes the character 
of a brown hydrate of the peroxide of iron. 

Its specific gravity was 3.415. 

At 320 degrees it lost, of water, 3,9 per cent. 

By calcination, - 6.72 

The metallic iron is, - - - 50.6 

Earthy impurities, - - - 17.1 

Oxygen,.21.68 


100 . 

The pig-metal obtained in this assay is very soft and tough; 
its fracture irregular; its colour dark gray, or mottled; struc¬ 
ture granular, and rather less crystalline than in the preceding 
trial. The cinder is a transparent glass, with a slight rose- 



17 


coloured tinge, indicative, perhaps, of the presence of a small 
quantity of oxide of manganese. The specific gravity of the 
pig-metal was 6.24. 

3. The next assay of the ore of this bed was made with a 
view of testing the efficacy of the limestone of Three Runs 
and of Karthaus respectively, as fluxes for the ore in question. 
The specimen now tried was without any portion of hydrate 
adhering to the exterior; its specific gravity was 3.206. 

It lost, by calcination, water and carbonic acid, 27.42 per cent. 
Assayed by 11.5 per cent, its weight of the lime¬ 
stone of Karthaus, it gave of metallic iron, 36.1 
Earthy impurities, silica, alumina, &c., - 26.17 

Oxygen,.10.31 


100 . 

The pig-metal was mottled throughout, moderately hard; 
fracture even, and nothing of crystalline structure was percep¬ 
tible. Its specific gravity was 7.102. 

The cinder is a transparent glass, with a tinge of purple. 

4. The same ore, treated with the limestone of Three 
Runs, in the proportion of 11.35 per cent., gave of metallic 

iron,. 34.54 per cent. 

And the earthy matter, including some protox¬ 
ide of iron contained in the cinder, amount¬ 
ed to .27.34 

Oxygen, ------- 10.70 

To which add the loss by calcination, - - 27.42 


100 . 

The cinder was, in this case, of a dirty green colour, porous, 
moderately fusible, and rather tough; the pig-metal white, with 
a few specks of dark gray, producing a slightly mottled appear¬ 
ance. 

5. This trial was on the ore from the “ Red vein,” which is 
264 feet above the Susquehanna river, 11.72 feet thick, in 
which are two separate bands of ore. It is marked on the 
Section as No. 25. Specific gravity, 3.421. 

This is also an argillaceous carbonate of iron, with an inter- 
c 




18 


mixture of some pyrites in minute grains diffused through the 
mass, and having its interstices coated with sulphate of lime. 

This and the following assay were intended to afford another 
opportunity of comparing the limestone of Karthaus and that 
of Three Runs, as well as to make known the character of the 
“ Red vein,” the discovery of which is comparatively recent. 

The colour of this ore is of a bluish-gray; its fracture splin¬ 
tery, uneven; surface harsh to the feel; the sulphate of lime in 
some parts crystallized in thin plates, and in others efflorescent 
on the surface. In drying at a temperature of 250 degrees, it 
loses only 0.32 per cent. 

In assaying this ore with the limestone of Karthaus, the lat¬ 
ter was employed in the proportion of 13.75 per cent, of the raw 
ore. 

The loss by calcination—water, carbonic acid, 

and sulphurous acid, - 29.06 per cent. 

Metallic iron, -.35.91 

Earthy impurities, silex, alumina, and sulphate 

of lime,.20.68 

Oxygen and other volatile products of fusion, - 14.35 

100 . 

The cinder is black, covered with a pellicle of metal, and is 
difficult of fusion. 

The pig-metal is rather hard, brittle, and white. Its specific 
gravity is 6.787. 

The presence of sulphate of lime had led me to suspect that 
of pyrites. During the calcination this became abundantly evi¬ 
dent, by the application of suitable tests; and a careful inspec¬ 
tion enabled me subsequently to detect the minute crystals of 
sulphuret in the ore. 

6. The same ore was assayed by the limestone of Three 
Runs, in the proportion of 11.28 per cent, of the raw ore. It gave, 

Loss by calcination,. 29.06 per cent. 

Metallic iron,.36.07 

Earthy impurities, oxide of iron, &c., - - 20.38 

Oxygen and other gaseous compounds resulting 
from the fusion,.14.49 


100. 




19 


The cinder was in this case in part of a dirty yellow colour, 
in part dark brown, opake, tough, and easily fusible. The pig- 
metal did not vary in any important particular from that of the 
preceding assay. Its specific gravity, however, was 7.272. 

7. The next assay was on the compact blue clay iron-stone 
of Three Runs, found on a bench upon the slope of the hill—its 
elevation not exactly determined, nor the thickness of the ore 
bed certainly known, but apparently of a workable magnitude. 

This is a compact ore, affecting in its fracture a conchoidal 
form, occasionally splintery. Its specific gravity is 3.130. 

Care was taken to distinguish, in this experiment, between 
the amount of water and that of carbonic acid. The result 
was 

Hyg rometric moisture, - 

Water of composition, - 
Other loss by calcination, - 

Metallic iron, - 

Earthy impurities, silica, alumina, &c., - 
Oxygen, - 


0.27 per cent. 
2.09 
27.07 
33.81 
22.49 
13.55 


99.88 

The pig-metal is tolerably soft, somewhat malleable, having 
a dark gray colour; partly crystalline structure, with a specific 
gravity of 7.00. 

The cinder is of a dirty gray, inclining to green; porous. 

8. A bank of ore has been recently discovered at Three 
Runs, lower in the formation than any at Karthaus, and near 
the level of the river. This stratum is presumed to be disclosed 
by the greater depth to which, at Three Runs, the river has cut 
its channel into the genera] mass of the stratification. The ore 
is in nodules, generally of small size, often not exceeding one 
or two inches in diameter. They consist as usual of a shell 
and nucleus, the latter generally more or less decomposed, but 
sometimes found very compact at the centre. 

The decomposed nucleus is often a white carbonate of iron, 
w T ith an exterior rose-coloured tinge; shell of a chocolate-brown. 
The specific gravity of the shell part was found to be 3.445; 
that of the nucleus, 3.570. 

The assay of both the shell and nucleus together, gave the fol¬ 
lowing results— 



20 


Hygrometric moisture, - 0.92 per cent. 

Water and carbonic acid lost by calcination, 20.60 

Metallic iron,.52.42 

Earthy matter, ------ 9.32 

Oxygen, - - -• - - - 15.84 

Loss, ------- .90 


100 . 

The pig-metal obtained in this assay is of a dark gray colour, 
of great toughness, softness, and malleability, and would be 
suitable for foundry purposes. Its specific gravity is 6.540. 

The cinder is a transparent glass, tinged with light pink. 

9. The shell part of the above nodular ore was next treated 
by itself, and gave the following results, viz. 

Water lost by calcination, - 12.70 per cent. 

Iron, ----- 55.94 

Earthy impurity, - - 8.21 

Oxygen, - - - - - 23.15 


100 . 

The limestone of Three Runs and the coke of Karthaus were 
used in making this assay, and the cinder obtained was a trans¬ 
parent glass of a reddish tinge, with a pellicle of metal on the 
exterior. It was easily fused. The pig-metal is very soft and 
tough; its fracture rough, with a display of occasional crys¬ 
talline facets; its colour dark gray. Specific gravity, 7.01. 

10. The last assay of the nodular ore was on the nucleus 
part, carefully freed from earthy matter, and from hydrate or 
peroxide. This nucleus had a specific gravity of 3.570. 

It was found to contain of 

Water, ----- 1.09 per cent. 

Carbonic acid, - 30.41 

Metallic iron, - 38.22 

Oxygen, - - 10.92 

Earths and trace of manganese, 19.36 


100 . 

In this assay the metal was all obtained in small beads and 
particles—the cinder much mixed with them—and it has 
therefore been found necessary to estimate the last two ingredi- 





21 


ents from a knowledge of the first three items. The 8th assay- 
being made on a specimen of ore partly composed of carbonate 
and partly of hydrate, gave, as might be expected, a result in¬ 
termediate between those of the 9th and 10th. 

LIMESTONE. 

1. The limestone found in the Mushannon Hill at Karthaus, 
as seen at No. 8 of the accompanying Section, 426.11 feet above 
the level of the river, and 3i feet thick, possesses a specific 
gravity of 2.78. 

It loses, by calcination, water and carbonic acid, 36.37 per cent. 
And contains of dry lime, - 36.08 

“ protoxide of iron, - - 6.97 

“ silica, - 12.00 

“ alumina and manganese, - 8.58 

100 . 

In heating strongly, to expel the last portions of carbonic acid, 
the lime, previously reduced to powder, became partially agglu¬ 
tinated, together evincing an incipient fusion. 

2. The limestone found at Three Runs has a specific gravity 
of 2.70; is of a yellowish colour and compact structure. 

It loses, by calcination, water and carbonic acid, 32.7 per cent. 


And contains of dry lime, - 34.5 

Silica,.- 21.0 

Protoxide of iron,.6.3 

Alumina, with a little magnesia, - - - 5.50 


100 . 

The above analyses appear to me to point to the cause of 
the peculiar character of the iron, found to be produced in one 
or two of the recent blasts of the Company’s furnace. The ore 
of the “ Red vein” contains a portion of sulphur, which the 
treatment of the minerals, before smelting, did not expel. My 
analyses of the ore of the “ Kidney vein” did not detect the 
same ingredient in the contents of that bed. In the earlier blasts 
of the furnace, the “ Red vein” ore was not used, and then the 
iron was gray, soft, and good. The white metal is believed to 
have been chiefly if not entirely produced, since the “Red vein” 




22 


ore has been mixed with the other. It appears that the lowest 
yield of the ore, either at Karthaus or Three Runs, is 34h per 
cent, of pig-iron, and the highest, 56 per cent., very nearly; 
hence, unless extraordinary imperfection exist in the running of 
the furnace, the quantity of raw mine required for the ton of 
pig-metal, ought in no case to exceed that stated in the pre¬ 
ceding Report; and it may probably be found, that 2\ tons will 
often suffice for this purpose, especially when a portion of the 
outcropping ore is mixed with the more solid parts. The no¬ 
dular ore recently opened at Three Runs, whether treated with 
pure carbonate of lime, or with the limestone of its own vicinity, 
yielded an iron of excellent quality, and varying in quantity 
from 38 to 56 per cent, of the ore employed. 

A more minute analysis of the cinder and of the residuum of 
the coal, to determine the best proportion of the different ores, 
and the quantity of flux necessary for their reduction, may 
hereafter be requisite, in order to the economical conduct of 
manufactures. Enough, however, has been shown, to indicate 
the intrinsic value of the materials, the fitness of several of them 
for making both forge and foundry iron, and the cause of un¬ 
suitableness in others for the like employment. Other varieties 
of ore than those alreadv named, are known to exist in the 
neighbourhood, and have been formerly employed in the manu¬ 
facture of iron at Karthaus, when good foundry metal was 
produced. On the whole, I see no reason to suppose that the 
pig-iron made at these works will necessarily be less valuable 
than that produced in other countries,* where coal and iron 
occur in juxta-position, and where immense quantities of the 
best forge and foundry iron are produced. 

I remain, gentlemen, very respectfully, your’s, 

WALTER R. JOHNSON. 

Philadelphia, February 2, 1839. 

* The mean yield of the ores of Wales is 33 per cent., that of those in Staf¬ 
fordshire, 30 per cent.—See Voy. Metallurgique of Dufrenoy and others , p. 100. 

By the mean of sixteen analyses by Berthier, the quantity of protoxide of iron 
in the carbonates of France was found to be 39.075 per cent., which corresponds 
to 30.4 per cent, of metallic iron; and by the mean of eight analyses of the car¬ 
bonated ores in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, by Dr. Colquhoun, the quantity 
of protoxide is 42.82 per cent., equivalent to 33.3 per cent, of iron .— Thomp. 
Min. Vol. I. p. 446-7. 



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REPORT 


OF A 


GEOLOGICAL, MINERALOGICAL, AND TOPOGRAPHICAL 

EXAMINATION 

OF THE 

COAL FIELD OF CARBON CREEK 

THE PROPERTY OF THE 

TOWANDA RAIL ROAD AND COAL COMPANY, 

BRADFORD COUNTY, PA. 


WITH 


AN ANALYSIS OF THE MINERALS. 


ACCOMPANIED BY 


A MAP OF THE SURVEYS, PROFILE OF THE ROAD, 



AND 

SECTIONS OF THE MINERAL GROUND. 


BY WALTER R. JOHNSON, A.M. 

Civ. and Min. Engineer; Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in Pennsylvania College, 
Philadelphia; Late Professor of Mechanics and Natural Philosophy in the Franklin Institute; 
Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, &c. &c. 


PHILADELPHIA: 


JOHN C. CLARK, PRINTER, CO DOCK STREET. 

1840. 













































• - 












i :c; , ’ ■ 




























- v. :< 1 




















































J 





\ 







REPORT. 


To the President and Directors 

of the Towanda Rail Road and Coal Company. 

Gentlemen, —Having been engaged in the service of your 
Company to examine the lands belonging to the same; to make 
preliminary surveys for a route by which a rail road may be 
made to connect the property of the Company with the State 
works; to ascertain the extent and character of the mineral beds, 
and their value; I now beg leave to submit the results of my sur¬ 
veys, explorations, and analyses. 

The situation of your property is, in many respects, advanta¬ 
geous. It appears to be the north-easternmost of that series of 
coal deposits, which stretch nearly the whole length of the State 
of Pennsylvania, on her northern border. It is at a very mode¬ 
rate distance from one of our great lines of public works, which 
connect it immediately with the central thoroughfares through 
our own state, and with the important improvements, the flourish¬ 
ing population, and extensive manufacturing districts of the State 
of New York. 

The situation above represented, will at all times secure to the 
products a market independent of the fluctuations of foreign trade, 
and being nearer to the same market than any other known lo¬ 
cality of bituminous coal formation, will be at all times able to 
command reasonable and profitable prices. The borough of Tow¬ 
anda, at or near which the rail road contemplated to be made 
from the Company’s property would be connected with the North 
Branch canal, is about 16 miles by the course of the river from 
the New York state line. This borough has enjoyed a rapid 
growth, and has participated largely in the lumber trade. It is 
the seat of justice for Bradford county, and is distinguished for 
the liberality, intelligence and public spirit of its inhabitants. 
The village of Munroeton, about four miles south-west of Towan¬ 
da, is likewise a thriving village, extensively engaged in the lum¬ 
ber trade; this village lies very near the line of the rail road pro¬ 
posed to be constructed by the Company, and will consequently 




1 


be enabled to avail itself of the facilities which that road may offer 
for transporting to the public works or to the Susquehanna, the 
great amount of lumber annually accumulated there. 

The delta of land between the Towanda creek, the river Sus¬ 
quehanna, and the road leading from Towanda to Munroeton, is a 
beautiful tract of exceedingly fertile land, and, together with the 
extensive valley of the main Towanda creek, will afford large sup¬ 
plies for any establishments which the Company may think pro¬ 
per to make, on their property, until the latter shall have been 
cleared and placed under cultivation. From the State of New 
York also, abundant supplies of provisions and other necessaries 
may be expected by the way of the river and the public works, 
in return for such minerals and other productions as will be fur¬ 
nished by the works of the Company. 

The market for iron, when the manufacture of that article shall 
have been established, cannot fail to be extensive, as the supplies 
of that necessary article for an extensive and populous region, are 
now brought from great distances. 

GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF THE DISTRICT. 

The property of the Company to which my attention was mainly 
directed, is situated in the north-easterly portion of a secondary 
formation, embracing a coal field of about two or three miles in 
breadth, and at least six or seven in length, its western termina¬ 
tion beyond the Company’s property, not being hitherto accurately 
defined. Its northern or north-western border, is along a high 
and tolerably uniform and continuous ridge of mountain, south of 
the valley of Towanda creek. On this creek itself, the lower beds 
of limestone and sandstone underlying the coal measures, are 
found at a high angle of inclination, often not less than 40 or 50 
degrees towards the south or south-west. On the easterly and 
south-easterly parts of the coal field, on the contrary, we find the 
dip of the lower rocks to be to the west or north-west, while on 
the south and south-western parts which I traversed, especially on 
Burnet’s ridge, the slope is evidently towards the north. The 
coal measures lie on both sides of the Carbon creek, the valley of 
which, as well as those of its tributaries, is a valley of denudation, 
made by the action of water, which at the north-eastern extremity 
of the coal basin, has excavated its channel through the whole coal 
series, over 200 feet thick, and to a depth of more than 750 feet 
below” them, into the underlying stata of slates, limestones, sand¬ 
stones, and shales. 


The upper bed of coal in this formation, is at an average eleva¬ 
tion, by the result of observations at several different openings, of 
1219 feet above the level of Towanda. It is under different 
amounts of covering, from 3 or 4, to 20 or 30 feet in thickness. 
The lowest of the mineral beds, of which the elevation has been 
accurately determined, is one of calcareous iron ore found on Fall 
creek and elsewhere, at the height of 1016 feet above the same 
level; and as below this, the reddish gray sandstone and red shales 
succeed, we may be safe in designating the thickness of the whole 
mineral bearing strata, including the coal measures and their 
covering, at about 220 feet. 

The thickness of the upper bed of coal, is from 5 to 7 feet, in 
different portions of the formation which have come under my 
notice. 

At an elevation of 1114J feet, is a second bed of coal, about 3 
feet in thickness; and from the above statement, it will be seen 
that this places it 104^ feet below the upper bed. This bed is 
found to repose on a stratum of compact siliceous gritstone, and the 
latter on gray sandstone, beneath which is found a bed of good fire 
clay. The latter rests on a bed of clay iron ore, of variable quali¬ 
ties, 9 or 10 feet in thickness. Between the two beds of coal are 
strata of iron ore, not much exposed to view, but near the north¬ 
ern limit of the coal formation in Mason’s beds and elsewhere, I 
have seen the Kidney ore of excellent qualities fully developed, 
and possessing the properties which will be indicated in the 
analyses of minerals contained in a subsequent part of this Report. 

The mineral deposites which have been hitherto explored by 
excavation , are situated wholly on the northerly side of the Car¬ 
bon creek; but, on the southern side, between that stream and the 
Millstone run, is a district which, so far as the indications of the 
surface can be relied on, will probably be found more valuable 
than any other which I have seen on the Company’s property; its 
greatest elevation is almost identical with that of the coal deposites 
at Mason’s mines; and every rock found on the north side of the 
stream, is also observable on the south side. As all the tributaries 
of the Carbon creek have, like that creek itself, made their chan¬ 
nels by denudation, there is necessarily a considerable space inter¬ 
vening between the several parts where the coal still retains its 
original position. Of these spaces, those between the upper beds 
are most extensive, and consequently the lower strata may be 
expected to furnish the greater amount of minerals. The lower 
bed of coal is judged to be more than twice as extensive as the 


upper. The time 'allowed for the execution of my surveys, did 
not permit me to ascertain the exact form of the out-crop of either 
of these beds; but it may, in general, be stated, that the upper 
bed has been opened between Coal run and the head of l 1 all 
creek, and between the latter and the sources of Long Valley 
creek. Between the heads of the latter, and of Brush Rock run 
and Wagner’s lick, the elevation and all the exterior indications 
fully warrant us in the belief, that the upper bed is there likewise 
to be found, though no direct researches have been instituted to 
lay open the minerals on these elevated parts of the formation. 
On a section accompanying this report, will be seen the deduc¬ 
tions from actual levelling on both sides of the Carbon; and from 
a careful comparison of the accompanying rocks, north and south 
of that stream, the coincidence of the mineral deposites on both 
sides has been inferred. It has been observed that the coal slate 
makes its appearance at the surface, on the south side, in localities 
exactly conformable to those situations at which the beds are 
opened, on the north side of the creek. It is on the strength of 
these coincidences in elevation, configuration, and identity of 
accompanying materials, chiefly, that I have ventured to locate the 
coal and other beds in the left hand part of the section, at the 
crossing of Carbon creek, below the mouth of Wagner’s run. 
The right hand side is mainly made from actual survey and obser¬ 
vation. Another section is given from actual levelling, commenced 
at the mouth of, and extended to the head of Fall creek, as well 
as along the table land beyond the place of its source. I should 
mention, that I have in my possession samples of coal said to have 
been found between the Carbon creek and the Millstone run, as 
well as between the latter stream and the south branch of Tow- 
anda creek. 

MINERALS. 

The most important minerals found in this tract of land, are iron 
ore, coal, and fire clay. These lie principally in the higher por¬ 
tions of the elevated table land, bounded on the north by that 
range of mountains which lies on the south side of Towanda 
creek, and on the south by the line of elevated land known as 
Burnet’s ridge, and sometimes called Allegheny Mountain. The 
mineral ground is, in all, about 200 or 220 feet thick, including the 
lowest bed of iron ore, and the highest of the beds of coal with its 
covering. The character of the coal is indicated by the analyses. 

The points at which the coal has been most extensively ex- 


7 


plored, are, the heads of Wagner’s Lick creek, and Fall creek. 
At the former are situated Mason’s Mines, so called; and, at the 
latter, are several shafts and drifts, made under the direction of 
the former owner. 

The most important portions of the coal of this formation, ap¬ 
pears to be included in two principal beds, known as the upper or 
“ big vein,” and the lower or “ three feet vein.” 

The upper bed has been exposed in six or seven different places, 
and has an average elevation of 1219 feet above the level of To- 
wanda. 

The lower bed, where exposed, not far from the head of Fall 
creek, is at an elevation of 1112 feet, but to the south-westward of 
this point the same bed is found at a lower elevation. 

The lower bed, where opened, at the S. E. side of Fall creek, 
near its head, was measured, and gave the following vertical sec¬ 
tion—beginning at the top. 

1. Sandstone about - 

2. Slate and iron shale, - - - 

3. 1st or upper ply of coal , 


30 feet. 

\2\ inches. 


4. 

1st ply of 

slate, intermediate, 

- 

5 

yy 

5. 

2d 

do. 

coal, 

- 

- 

2 

yy 

6. 

2d 

do. 

slate, 

- 

- 

4 

yy 

7. 

3d 

do. 

coal , 

- 

- 

94 

yy 

8. 

3d 

do. 

slate, 

- 

- 

1 

yy 

9. 

4th 

do. 

coal , 

- 

- 

4 

yy 

10. 

4th 

do. 

slate, - 

- 

- 

2 

yy 

11. 

5 th 

do. 

coal , 

- 

- 

5h 

yy 

12. 

5th 

do. 

slate, 

- 

- 

6 

yy 





Total 

coal, 

33\ 

yy 

The last 

ply of slate rests on a 

white 

gritstone, 

5 feet 

in thick- 


ness; below which occurs a stratum of gray sandstone; and under 
that fire clay, four feet thick. 

The south-western opening, which has been hitherto supposed to 
be on the same bed, has exhibited a more unmixed series of coal 
seams, viz.— 


1 . 

Sandstone, as before, about 

: 30 feet. 


2. 

Top slate, 

4 feet. 


3. 

Upper coal seam, 

16 

inches. 

4. 

Upper slate, - 

2 

yy 

5. 

2d coal seam, 

151 

yy 

6 . 

2d slate, 

4 

yy 


Total coal 

, 311 

yy 


8 


The coal in this drift is not only less separated into thin plies 
than in the other opening, supposed to be on the same bed, but is 
of more uniform texture. The mining ply , in this bed, is a stra¬ 
tum of 4 inches of soft slaty matter, 2 inches above the upper 
seam of coal, constituting part of the 4 feet of top slate. 

The height of this bed, above our level base, appears to be 1149 
feet, or it is 37 feet higher than the opening before described, and 
the distance from the preceding opening, 1390 feet, in a direction 
N., 36|° E. 

The main cleat or sline of the coal has a direction N., 28° W. 

The difference of elevation between these two openings, toge¬ 
ther with the difference in the plies of slate and coal, may favour 
the conjecture that they are, in fact, on different beds; and the cir¬ 
cumstances are sufficient to warrant some pains to be hereafter 
taken, to ascertain whether, among the great masses of fallen mat¬ 
ter, near the first cascade, or head of Fall creek, and near the level 
of the bottom of that fall, any traces of the same bed may be dis¬ 
covered. 

Should it not be there found, the inference must be admitted, 
that the lower bed has, in this part of the formation, an inclina¬ 
tion of 37 feet towards the N., 36£° E., in a distance of 1390 feet, 
or about one quarter of a mile. The level of this upper fall is 
such as to give a degree of probability to the supposition that the 
coal bed, just described, may yet be found there; for the top of that 
fall has an elevation of 114S feet. 

The inclination of the measures indicated above, is greater than 
is believed to be found in other parts of the formation, unless near 
the very outcropping of the strata. The affirmative determination 
of this question would add essentially to the value of the mineral 
ground. 

The next series of measurements which I made on the coal beds, 
was near the old cabin, at the end of Miller’s Coal road, and in the 
eastern opening. The pit sunk at this point, was too near the out¬ 
crop to enable me to decide with entire accuracy, all the points in 
regard to either the thickness or elevation of the seams. The 
gradual decaying and breaking down of the stratification on the 
slopes of the mountain, often render the measurements taken at the 
surface of the ground uncertain; and the uncertainty is the greater 
as the materials below the coal are more perishable, and easily 
washed away. The top of this bed appeared to be 1201.6 feet 
above our base line, and, consequently, 89.6 feet above the level 


9 


4 feet. 


3 „ 


32 

inches. 

15b 

n 

&h 

n 

H 

ii 

13 

ii 

14 

ii 

29 

ii 

O* 

00 

ii 

degree 

of cohesion, 


of the first opening above described, and 52.6 feet above the se¬ 
cond. 

The series was as follows:— 

1. Covering of sandstone, much broken, 

2. Iron shale, - 

3. Coal, . 

4. Slate, - . 

5. Coal, ------ 

6. Slate, ------ 

7. Coal ,. 

8. Slate, ------ 

9. Coal, . 

Total coal, 

The lower ply only of coal had here an 
owing to the nearness to the out-crop; but the distinctive charac¬ 
ter of each seam, both of coal and slate, could be readily discri¬ 
minated. 

The fourth opening, in which measurements were taken, was 
about 300 feet N., 56%° W., from the preceding, in what has been 
called Miller’s Old Drift, near the cabin, at the end of the coal 
road. The roof of this opening is 1212.6 feet above our base line, 
and 10.9 feet above that of the preceding opening. Its covering 
is iron shale, with some iron ore intermixed; above which is sand 
rock, as above described. 

1. Coal, 32 inches. 

2. Slate, - - - 4 

3. Coal, - - - 19£ 

4. Slate, - 7 

5. Coal, - - - 21 


n 


n 


11 


11 


Total coal, 72 \ „ 

The above were all the strata exposed in this drift, in a manner 
to be easily approached or measured. 

The main cleat of the upper coal is vertical, and has a bearing 
N., 30° W. 

There is a striking resemblance between the three plies of coal 
just referred to, and the three principal plies in the preceding 
section. 

Owing, it is believed, to the difference of level between the two 
openings just described, they have been heretofore supposed to 
belong to separate beds. 

In order to ascertain this point, I caused a pit to be sunk near 
the mouth of this last drift, to a depth greater than the difference 


B 


10 


of level between the roofs of the two openings, but no indications 
of a second bed were given. As the actual difference of level, 
thus exposed, was greater than the whole thickness of the bed at 
either opening, this led me to the conclusion that the two open¬ 
ings are, in fact, on one and the same bed, as indicated by the re¬ 
semblance between the respective coal seams. 

The breaking down of the strata in the former locality, together 
with some degree of inclination in that direction, may perhaps ac¬ 
count for the difference of elevation in these two beds. 

I had an opportunity of measuring the thickness of the bed on 
which Barclay’s mines are opened, at a distance of a little more 
than one and one-third miles, in a direct line, bearing, south 81° 
west from the old drift just described. I then found the following 
section, viz: — 

Under a covering of sandstone is a roof of nine inches of slate, 
then, 

1. Coal, 

2. Slate, 

3. Coal, 

4. Slate, 

5. Coal, 

6. Slate, 

7. Coal, 

Total Coal, 67 inches, of which 61 inches are worked. 

The level of this bed does not lie more than 20 feet above that 
of the old drift, near Miller’s cabin. 

It is a well known fact, that where coal and slate seams alter¬ 
nate in the same bed, the relative thicknesses of the several plies 
of the two materials, may vary very considerably within a few 
hundred yards. This may suffice to account for all the differences 
which have been observed in the superior bed of coal in this basin. 
It would not be safe, however, in a country so little explored, and 
so much in its primitive condition of a deep forest, to pronounce 
against the existence of more than the two beds which I have laid 
down. These are certain, and their existence is sufficient to stamp 
a value on the region, which it will require a long period to ex¬ 
haust. 


35 inches, 

11 


6 


5 


20 

jj 

3 


6 



ANALYSIS OF COAL. 

Eight samples of the coal of this region have been examined. 
No. 1. This specimen is from the fifth ply of coal in the lower 

v 


» 


11 


bed, opened near the head of Fall creek. Thickness of the ply, 
5^ inches.—Its specific gravity is 1.5155. 


At a temp, of 300, it loses of moisture, 

- 1.3 

per cent. 

By distillation at a red heat of water, - 

- 4.5 


Uncondensible gaseous matter, 

- 9.2 


It contains of carbon, - 

- 62.6 


And of earthy matter, 

- 22.4 



100.0 



The ashes are almost perfectly white, and of moderate density. 
This, as well as the two following specimens, are from parts of 
the bed so near the out crop as to yield, as in all similar cases, a 
higher proportion of earthy matter than would be found to exist in 
the coal when not exposed to any of the decomposing influences 
of the atmosphere. 

No. 2. This specimen was from the third ply of coal in the same 
opening as the preceding. 

The thickness of this ply is 9§ inches. 

Its specific gravity is 1.4485. 


At 260° it loses of moisture, 

- 1.9 

per cent. 

And at a bright red heat it gives of water, 

6.2 

?? 

gas, 

- 9.3 


- T . . ; 

17.4 


It contains of carbon, - - - 

- 70.0 


And of earthy matter, - 

- 12.6 



100.0 



The ashes are dense, and of a greyish white colour. 

No. 3. This sample is from the second ply of the same bed, the 
thickness of which is two inches. 

Its specific gravity is 1.4651. 

At 220° it loses of moisture, - - -1.2 per cent. 

At redness it is decomposed, giving of water, 5.7 „ 

„ „ ,, of gas, 12.2 ,, 

It contains of carbon, ----- 63.9 „ 

And of earthy matter,.17. „ 


100.0 

The ashes are light, and have a white colour, very slightly in¬ 
clining to buff. 

No. 4. This sample of coal was taken from the old drift of Mil- 






12 


ler’s opening, north-west of the head of Fall creek, and from the 
middle coal of that bed, which is 19^ inches thick. Its structure 
is somewhat irregular, inclining to rhombic, and its colour rusty 
brown. The surfaces of deposition presenting distinct traces of 
vegetable fibres in a state of charcoal. 


Its specific gravity is 1.3771. 

It loses in moisture at 220, 

2.5 

per cent 

At a red heat it parts with water, - 

3.0 


And of combustible and other gases, 

15.0 

99 

It contains of earthy materials, 

11.4 


And of carbon, - 

68.1 



100.0 



The ashes of this coal are almost perfectly white, or but very 


slightly inclining to buff. 

No. 5. This specimen is from the lower part of the upper 32 


inch ply of coal in Miller’s old drift, and 
ture, with a specific gravity of 1.3784. 

possesses a 

cubical struc- 

It possesses of hygrometric moisture, 

1.0 

per cent. 

Water given out in coking, 

3.5 

>9 

Gas volatilized by bright red heat, 

14.7 

99 

Carbon, - 

65.5 

99 

Earthy impurity, - 

15.3 

100.0 

99 


The ashes are moderately light, and of a grey colour, com¬ 
pounded of white and chocolate. 

No. 6. This sample was likewise from the upper, or 32 inch 
ply of coal in the old drift before mentioned. It possessed the 
cubical structure, and fine deep black colour. 

Specific gravity 1.3492. 

It contains of moisture, vaporized at 212°, 

Of water, tar, &c. disengaged in coking, 

Uncondensible gas, - 

Carbon, . 

Earthy matter,. 


1.3 per cent. 
6.5 
11.5 
74.97 
5.73 


99 


99 




100.0 

The ashes are of a rather deep chocolate brown, scarcely less 
marked in this particular than any of the red ashes of anthracite. 

No. 7. This coal was obtained from the middle part of the bed, 
at Mason’s mine, on the head waters of Wagner’s run. The coal 





13 


from this mine is already in the highest repute, both for domestic 
consumption and for purposes of the arts. 

It has a specific gravity of 1.388. 

It contains of moisture volatile at 390°, - 0.6 per cent. 

No. 8. This coal is from the lower part of Mason’s bed; it pos¬ 
sesses a columnar structure, the surfaces of deposition being dis¬ 
tinctly marked; its colour deep black, surface of vertical fractures 
shining. 

Its specific gravity is 1.400. 

IRON ORES. 

The argillaceous carbonate of iron is the principal variety to be 
expected in all coal districts. The Carbon creek formation is 
found in this respect to sustain the general character of all our 
Pennsylvania coal fields, yielding ores in considerable variety, 
and of different degrees of richness, capable of producing from six 
or eight, to forty or fifty per cent, of metallic iron. These ores 
have been found either in place in the solid strata, or scattered in 
rolled pebbly masses, over so much of the property as to leave no 
doubt of their constituting, originally, regular portions of the 
formation. Thus I have collected samples from the heads of Fall 
creek, and from those of Long valley, as well as along the chan¬ 
nel of the latter tributary; they are also met with in Wagner’s 
Lick creek, and especially on the heads of the latter stream, where 
the ore has been fully exposed a few hundred yards from Mason’s 
coal mines. Kidney ore is found in several places directly over- 
lying the upper bed of coal. 

The lowest stratum of ore which I have been enabled to ex¬ 
amine, is situated, as abovementioned, 1016 feet above the level of 
our base line, such at least is its elevation where opened on Fall 
creek. It constitutes a bed 37| inches thick, reposing on a bed 
of fire clay, 16 inches thick, and covered with a ferruginous shale, 
6 inches thick. From this statement, it will appear that the min¬ 
ing of this ore will be effected without any unusual difficulty. 

In the solid part of the stratum, where the influences of the 
weather have not interfered with its natural state, it is of a light 
blue colour, of irregular texture, being sometimes uniform, and at 
others, conglomerated of clay, and fragmentary masses of iron ore. 
The weathered specimens are commonly of a dark brown colour, 
approaching to black, and are obviously changed from the charac¬ 
ter of carbonates of the protoxide to hydrated peroxides of the 
metal. As in passing through this change some portions of 


14 


earthy matter are commonly separated and washed away, the ore 
in this latter condition is richer than in its previous state of a car¬ 
bonate, the loss in carbonic acid and earthy matter being greater 
than the gain in oxygen and water. This remark will also apply 
to the other carbonates, as compared with the hydrated parts of 
the balls or blocks of ore. In the process of decomposition the 
hydrate is often accumulated in the form of a shell, more or less 
regular upon the exterior of a nucleus of spongy earthy matter, 
nearly destitute of iron; such shells are occasionally found in the 
bed now under consideration. The following are the results of 
my examinations of this ore. 

No. 1. A specimen of this ore from near the outcrop was selected, 
having the elongated kidney form, a shell enclosing white earthy 
matter, its colour in recent fractures of the shell, dark brown. 

Its specific gravity was 3.2264 at a temperature of 56° Fah. It 
lost at 320° 2\ per cent, in water; and by the application of a 
white heat for some time, the combined water expelled, amounted 
to 21.1 per cent. 

An assay of this ore in the dry way, without any admixture 
whatever, gave, of metallic iron, 32.5 per cent., and of earthy cin¬ 
der, 29.8 per cent.; oxygen, 14.1 per cent.; water, 23.6 per cent.; 
of which 2.5 per cent., as above stated, was uncornbined. 

This analysis proves that for each equivalent of iron, in com¬ 
bination (28), there was present li equivalent of oxygen (12), and 
2 equivalents of water (18). This corresponds with the constitu¬ 
tion of bihydrated peroxide of iron. 

The pig metal obtained in this assay was of a light grey colour, 
and rather brittle. This trial proves that the ore will not actually 
require the use of any flux for its reduction. 

No. 2. This sample was taken from under the fall, below the 
lower bed of coal, and was in the original state of the mineral not 
changed to hydrate, as in the preceding example. Its colour is 
light blue, its texture is amorphous, or foliated, its fracture irre¬ 
gular; some shining particles, probably pyritous, are distributed 
through it. 

Its specific gravity is 3.0549. At 320° it loses 0.5 per cent. 
It loses when heated to whiteness, 10.5 per cent, of carbonic acid, 
with probably a little sulphur. The amount of iron contained in 
this ore, was 24.2 per cent.; of earthy materials, 49.2. The state 
in which the iron exists in this ore is doubtless that of a proto¬ 
carbonate. The cinder was brittle, of a green colour, and perfectly 
fused. 


15 


No. 3. This ore was taken from the fifth ply of a bed about 10 
feet in thickness, and at an elevation of 10S0 feet above our base 
line, and 64 feet above the 37i inch bed already described. The 
ply is IS inches thick. 

This ore has a brown or ochrey appearance, and being taken 
from a point at no great distance from the outcrop, has evidently 
undergone a change from atmospheric influences. Its fracture is 
uneven, and its texture analogous to some of the argillaceous 
shales. Its specific gravity is 2.7256. It contains of hygrometric 
moisture, vaporizable at 320° Fah. 2 per cent.; of water in combina¬ 
tion, 4.8 per cent.; metallic iron, 44 per cent; earthy matter, 24.3. 

The remaining 4 portions of the 10 feet bed, from which the 
preceding sample was taken, were examined, and found to yield 
different quantities of iron, from 6 to 16 or 20 per cent. It is pro¬ 
bable that in working some of the other varieties of ore found on 
the Company’s domain, portions of this 10 feet bed will be found 
available as furnishing materials to promote the fusion and facili¬ 
tate the working of the richer descriptions, which do not contain 
a sufficient quantity of earthy ingredients to produce a good cinder 
for the protection of the iron in the hearth. 

No. 4. This sample is from a stratum of iron ore and fire clay 
found on Fall creek, at an elevation of about 18 feet below the 
lower bed of coal, or 1092 feet above our base line; the bed of 
materials in which it occurs, is 2 feet 6 inches thick, of which 4 
inches at the bottom are fire clay, the remaining portion iron shale, 
intermixed with flattened reniform masses of argillaceous carbo¬ 
nate of iron, and some carbonaceous matter derived from fossil 
vegetable remains. The whole bed, together with the superincum¬ 
bent mass of coarse sandstone rock, or fine conglomerate, appears 
to have fallen from place, and the situation was not therefore 
favourable for determining the real value of the bed. The sample 
submitted to experiment, was a fair type of the ore in this bed; 
but it should be added, that all which we could conveniently ob¬ 
tain at this place, had undergone a change, and been reduced from 
carbonate to hydrate. 

Its specific gravity was found to be 3.2113. 

It lost of hygrometric moisture, - - 3.5 per cent. 

Of combined water expelled by a full red heat, 12.7 „ 

Pig metal, ------ 53.4 ,, 

Earthy matter, - - - - - 5.8 „ 

Oxygen, - - - - - - 24.6 „ 


100.0 



16 




?? 




The pig metal is of good quality, soft, gray, and tough. The 
cinder was imperfectly fused, but with 20 per cent, of lime, would 
probably be fully reduced. 

In the assaying of other parts of this band of 10 feet of argilla¬ 
ceous ore, a friable, semi vitreous cinder was obtained by the use 
of about one-twentieth its weight of carbonate of lime; but the 
large quantity of earthy matter in the ore, would demand in prac¬ 
tice, considerable increase of that quantity, probably to the extent 
above named. 

No. 5. This ore was discovered on the head waters of Long 
Valley creek, in a decayed and broken down portion of the mea¬ 
sures, in such a situation as induces me to believe that its original 
place in the formation is near the level of the lower bed of coal, 
probably a little above it. Its colour is brown, externally, and 
yellowish within; it is evidently a hydrate, formed by the decom¬ 
position of carbonate. 

Its specific gravity is 3.3604. 

It lost of water, by heating to 320°, - 3.8 per cent. 

And at a white heat, - - - - 14.1 

Of pig iron, it gave - 48.4 

Earthy matter, - - - - - 3.9 

The pig metal was grey, tough, and moderately soft; the cinder 
opaque, greyish white. In this assay, the cinder was rather im¬ 
perfectly reduced, and some portions were probably lost. 

No. 6. This specimen of ore was taken from a pit sunk about 8 
feet deep, near Mason’s coal mines, on the head waters of Wag¬ 
ner’s run; the band of flattened balls, very closely compacted 
together, is 6 inches. This band of ore is found near the north¬ 
easterly outcrop of the series of coal measures, a few feet only 
above the level of the heavy stratum of conglomerate rock, which 
marks so distinctly the limit of the basin in that direction. Its 
place is indicated on the section across Carbon creek, below Wag¬ 
ner’s run, accompanying this Report; and which is intended to 
exhibit, on its right hand portion, the northerly outcrop of the 
measures, as well as the central portion south-east of the Carbon. 
In this same locality, are exposed three other strata of ore, the first 
of which is 5i feet above the one now under consideration, the 
second 6f feet, and the third about 7h feet. This last is a band of 
balls, as will be more particularly stated below; hence, it will be 
seen, that all four of these bands of ore may be worked together, 
within a vertical height of 8 feet. The total thickness of the 4 
bands being about 18 or 19 inches, and the intervening matter to 


17 


be mined out, ferruginous slate and other friable sandstone, will 
not, I apprehend, present any serious difficulties in the mining. 

The following section shows the whole of these measures, com¬ 
mencing at the top: 


1. 

Balls of iron ore , - 

- 

0 feet 3 

inches. 

2. 

Slaty sandstone, - 

- 

0 


9 

jj 

3. 

Upper band of iron ore , - 

- 

0 


6 

jj 

4. 

Siliceous iron shale, 

- 

1 


0 


5. 

Middle band of kidney ore , 

- 

0 


5 


6. 

Ferruginous slate, - 

- 

5 


0 


7. 

Lower band of compact balls of iron ore , 

0 

?? 

6 


8. 

Iron shale, - 

- 

1 


6 

n 

9. 

Black slate, - 

- 

0 


6 

jj 

10. 

Iron shale, - 

- 

1 


S 



The four varieties of ore found at the above locality, are also 
met with in various other situations on the property, especially on 
Long Valley creek, in the bed of which, samples exactly similar to 
the lower band of the above section, have been observed in nume¬ 
rous places. This band is of a durable texture, and appears to resist 
more firmly than the accompanying materials, the decomposing 
action of the atmosphere, and hence it continues unaltered in places 
where all the others have been washed away. The specific gravity 
of this lower band is 3.265. 

It loses by calcination, - 22.7 per cent. 

And gives of iron, - 29.4 

Earthy matter, - - - - - 36.7 

Volatile matter, oxygen, &c. - - - 11.2 








100.0 

No. 7. This is the middle ply of the ore in the bed near Ma¬ 
son’s coal mines. It is found in a stratum of kidney shaped balls, 
5 inches thick. Its colour, in fresh fractures, is dark bluish gray, 
surface splintery, occasionally giving conchoidal fractures, com¬ 
pact, and of uniform texture. 


Its specific gravit}^ is 3.763. 

Heated to 320° it loses but 

0.2 

per cent. 

Fully calcined, it loses in addition, 

29.8 


Treated with pure lime, it yields at once 
malleable iron with a little oxide, 

45. 


Earthy impurity, - 

4.1 


Oxygen, ------ 

10.9 



This stratum affords the richest ore which has fallen under my 

c 



18 


notice from any coal formation, for the sample above analyzed 
was not a surface specimen reduced to the state of a hydrate, but 
a well marked solid carbonate, with only a thin surface coating of 
hydrate. It will probably be found expedient to work it with 
either No. 1 or No. 3, or with both together, in order to obtain a 
good soft pig metal. 

No. 8 . This ore is found in the upper band of the three already 
mentioned as occurring together in Mason’s bed. It generally 
presents the appearance of nearly square blocks, or brick shaped 
masses, 7 inches thick. Above this ply of ore, is a course of balls 
separated from it only by a few inches of friable sandstone, a 
coarse quartzose grit lies a little higher. The aspect of this ore, 
when it has not undergone any decomposition by atmospheric in¬ 
fluences, is a dark gray colour, a rather rough surface, and a mix¬ 
ture of shining metallic particles interspersed through the body of 
the ore, as well as on its surface. 

Its specific gravity is 3.4783. 

At 320° it loses, - 

At white heat it undergoes decomposition, 
and loses, - 

It smelts without difficulty, and yields of 


0.4 per cent. 


25.8 


pig iron, _____ 43 3 

It contains of earthy impurities, fusing 

into a dirty white cinder, - - 25.4 

And the oxygen is, - - - 5.1 


?y 




7? 


100.0 

The pig metal obtained was soft, gray and tough. There is no 
doubt in my mind, that this ore will be found to work well either 
by itself or with the other ores found in this bed. 

No. 9. This specimen was from the-stratum of balls, three 
inches thick, in the abovementioned opening, not far from Ma¬ 
son’s coal mines. 

Its colour is yellowish, or dark brown. Its specific gravity is 
3.4977. 


At 320° it loses, - 

0.5 

per cent. 

Calcined to whiteness it loses in addition, 

25.5 

?? 

And when smelted, yields of pig metal, 

45.6 

77 

Of earthy impurities it contains, - 

10.7 

7 ? 

And of oxygen, - 

17.7 

77 


100.0 





19 


The iron is moderately tough, and of a light colour, appearing 
rather less favourable for foundry purposes than the results of the 
other plies in the same bed. 

No. 10. This specimen, as well as the next, was found on 
Wagner’s run, the precise elevation not ascertained. It appears 
in many respects analogous to the ore in the 37 \ inch bed on Fall 
creek, being a conglomerate of pebbly masses of clay ironstone, 
with a cement of earthy and ferruginous matter. 

Its specific gravity is 2.823. 

It contains of water, - 9.2 per cent 

It yields of pig metal, - 29.8 

It contains of earthy impurities, - - 50. 

Oxygen, -.11. 




?? 


100.0 

No. 11. This specimen, as well as the preceding, was found in 
the channel of Wagner’s run, but as there can be no doubt of its 
having belonged to a regular stratum of ore not yet explored, but 
of considerable thickness, it was deemed expedient to examine its 
properties. 

Its specific gravity is 3.5065. 

It yields 50 per cent, of pig metal, soft, gray and tough. It re¬ 
sembles strongly the ores found in the bed of Long Valley creek, 
in some parts in large quantities, and also has a striking simi¬ 
larity to the upper ply in Mason’s ore pit. It contains but 8 per 
cent, of matter insoluble in acids. 

From the foregoing details, it will be observed that the yield of 
the several ores is as follows, viz.— 


1 . 

- 

32.5 

2 . 

- 

24.2 

3. 

- 

44.0 

4. 

- 

53.4 

5. 

- 

48.4 

6 . 

- 

29.4 

7. 

- 

45.0 

8 . 

- 

43.3 

9. 

- 

45.6 

10 . 

- 

29.8 

11 . 

- 

50.0 mean 40.5 per cent. 



20 


FIRE CLAY. 

At least three strata of fire clay have been observed on the 
waters of Fall creek; one 16 inches thick, under the 37i inch bed 
of iron ore; one 4 feet thick, above the 10 feet bed of ore and iron 
shale; and another still higher, accompanying a bed of ore under 
the coarse gritstone or conglomerate. This clay, of the 4 feet bed, 
has a dark gray colour, compact structure, and possesses a specific 
gravity of 2.646. In the fire it becomes reddish white, but is 
otherwise unchanged except by cracking, as it shrinks, and dis¬ 
playing on the exterior some traces of oxide of iron. 

LIMESTONE. 

This material has not yet been found in place in any considerable 
quantities on the property of the Company, but in several of the 
denuded valleys it occurs in such quantities as to leave no doubt 
of its constituting a regular part of the formation. It was observed 
not only in the bed of Carbon creek, but also in that of the Long 
valley, Fall creek, and some other tributaries. It is of the gray 
fossiliferous variety, and belongs in the strata below the coal. The 
fact of having noticed some of it not far from the great falls of Fall 
creek, has induced me to believe that it must be found in place 
within a moderate distance of the bottom of those falls. 

A sample of the limestone picked up in the channel of Long 
Valley creek, possesses a specific gravity of 2.7054. 

It contains about 40 per cent, carbonate of lime. 

„ 3.5 „ peroxide of iron. 

,, 56.5 „ argillaceous matter. 


100.0 

This limestone will probably be found sufficiently pure to serve 
as a flux for any of the ores contained on the Company’s property. 

As the valley of the Towanda creek, below its junction with the 
Carbon creek, presents many localities where fossiliferous lime¬ 
stone of lower strata than that above described, are brought into 
view, it was deemed proper to make also some trials to determine 
its degree of purity: its colour is reddish gray. 

Its specific gravity is 2.658. 

It yielded of carbonate of lime, - 45.5 per cent. 

„ peroxide of iron, - 5.5 „ 

„ . earthy argillaceous matter and sand, 49.0 „ 


100.0 




21 


A limestone of this variety has been heretofore employed in the 
manufacture of lime for building, near Munroeton. It would in all 
probability serve the purpose of a flux, should the quantity on the 
lands of the Company be found inadequate, and being immediately 
on the line of the road, would be easily procured in sufficient 
quantity for that purpose. 

WATER POWER. 

The amount of water power furnished by the Carbon creek, is a 
very important item in the advantages of this property, and will 
enable the Company to employ not only the vast quantity of 
growing timber for the manufacture of lumber, but also to manu¬ 
facture iron or other materials for which this species of power may 
be found desirable. 

The distance from the eastern line of the property which I have 
examined, where that line is crossed by the Carbon creek, to the 
western line where the creek survey terminated, is, by the course 
of the creek, a little more than six miles, and the fall in that dis¬ 
tance is 304 feet, or almost precisely 50 feet per mile, for the whole 
of that distance. Situations favourable for the location of mills are 
to be found throughout the whole of this distance, and the quantity 
of water furnished by the creek during the whole of the driest 
part of the past summer and autumn, was such as to warrant 
the belief that the body of water, as well as the amount of fall, 
is ample for every purpose of mechanical power. Though the 
stream is liable to considerable and rather rapid increase within a 
few hours, yet sites may, in every instance, be selected for the 
mills, where they may be completely defended from inundation, 
and capable of availing themselves of every stage of water for pro¬ 
fitable operation. 

By erecting a dam across the Carbon creek, about 4 or 5 feet in 
height, near the head of the line of rapids commonly known as 
the Great Falls, it will be practicable, by a raceway of not more 
than 1300 feet long, to appropriate the entire stream to manufac¬ 
turing purposes, with a fall of not less than 28 feet perpendicular 
distance. I would therefore recommend the early erection at 
this place of a mill, with an overshot, or pitch back wheel, with at 
least four runs of saws, and with all the latest improvements in 
the machinery of such establishments, including a double track of 
railway to bring the logs immediately to the saw carriages, and to 
remove the lumber when produced, immediately to the main 
track of the Company’s rail road, where it will at once be put on 


22 


/ 


its way to a market, instead of accumulating about the establish¬ 
ment. As subservient to the establishment of a mill, such as I 
have now suggested, the erection of a small saw mill, on the or¬ 
dinary plan, will be expedient, and this can be established at the 
Little Falls, a few hundred yards below the point just designated 
for the larger establishment. Such a mill would be at all times 
profitably occupied in furnishing lumber, either for the supply of 
the works, or for the market. 

TIMBER. 

Immediately connected with the subject of water power, is that 
of timber , of which the Company’s property contains an abun¬ 
dant supply. Pine is perhaps the most valuable variety, whether 
we take into view the great and increasing demand for that article, 
or the great size and value of the trees. This variety is chiefly 
confined to the higher table lands, or mountain summits, where 
they attain a diameter of three or four feet, and a proportionate al¬ 
titude. On the north-western portion of the property, some part 
of the pine timber was sold by a former owner of the land, but 
on other parts much fine white pine timber yet remains. 

Hemlock is probably the most abundant growth of trees, and 
will supply an immense amount of lumber. As this timber is ra¬ 
pidly rising in importance in proportion as pine becomes scarce 
throughout the country, it will be found that the forests of it 
which now load many parts of the Company’s property, will be a 
most interesting and available source of revenue. 

In order to form an approximate estimate of the value, amount, 
variety, and proportion of the timbers growing along the Carbon 
creek, I caused a portion of ground taken at random in the midst 
of the forest, to be measured, and the girth of each tree to be sepa¬ 
rately ascertained, together with an estimate, by an experienced 
woodsman, of the number of saw logs, of 16 feet in length, 
which each could furnish, judging from its height and apparent 
condition. The result was, that the acre contained 64 hemlocks 
fit to be converted into lumber, yielding 162 logs fit for the mill, 
each 18 inches in diameter, on an average, and 16 feet in length; 
giving at least 160 feet board measure of lumber, or the acre would 
produce 27.520 feet. There were also found 12 beeches, each 
giving a log, averaging eight inches in diameter, and eight bass¬ 
wood trees, each yielding one log of the usual length, and one foot 
in diameter. 

On some parts of the property, it is true, much less timber would 


23 


be found than on the spot above referred to; but it is equally true, 
that on other portions much more would be obtained, and of more 
valuable varieties. Pines of gigantic growth are found on several 
portions of the tract, and cherry, maple, birch, sugar, whitewood, 
chestnut, sycamore, ironwood, and some oak, are found to prevail 
according to situation. The pine is found mostly on the high ta¬ 
ble land, upon the coal measures. Cherry trees of great value, 
being two and three feet in diameter, were observed about the 
head waters of Mason’s and Newbold’s runs, on the south side of 
the Carbon creek. A single tree of this kind would purchase, if 
placed on the banks of the Susquehanna at Towanda, many acres 
of land, at the prices which have been paid for it in situations not 
less favourable than that on which these cherries are now grow¬ 
ing. The only desideratum is the rail road for the easy trans¬ 
portation of lumber, and the mill to prepare it for market. 

But without estimating these valuable varieties, if we confine 
our attention to the timber alone, which is certainly the prevailing 
species, we shall find that at the estimate of quantity above given, 
and at a profit of no more than two dollars per thousand, above all 
expenses, the timber would yield fifty-five dollars per acre. 

There has been some devastation by fires, particularly on the 
* high ridge between the heads of Wagner’s lick, and Long Valley 
creek; but on the whole, I consider the quantity of burnt land 
rather unusually small, as compared with most other parts of 
our Pennsylvania mountain country, which I have heretofore tra¬ 
versed. 

Besides the vast amount of standing timber, there is in certain 
situations a large quantity of that which has been prostrated by 
tornadoes, &c., which an economical management would convert to 
profitable purposes. It might even be a question whether it would 
not be better, in the commencement of iron manufactures, to em¬ 
ploy the fuel which is so superabundant above ground, rather than 
seek it beneath the surface. It is impossible to estimate the hun¬ 
dreds of thousands of cords of timber, now annually consumed in 
clearing land in Bradford county. The Company would proba¬ 
bly find in their iron ores, a material on which all this useless 
waste would be most happily saved, while all the bituminous coal, 
which they might be able to mine, would find a ready and profit¬ 
able market. 


24 


RAIL ROAD. 

The borough of Towanda, situated between one and two miles 
above the mouth of the To wanda creek, and on the western side 
of the north branch of the Susquehanna river, was made the point 
of departure of my surveys and levellings; and the point selected 
for the first station was on the western guard bank of the dam at 
that borough. The level of that bank is consequently assumed as 
the base line for all the altitudes taken during the survey. That 
level is eight-tenths of a foot above the level of the wall of the 
abutment where it faces the shute, and 11.413 feet above a bench 
on a willow tree north of the guard bank, from which the mea¬ 
surements were commenced. 

The line commenced at this point was carried on a level for 
about 2 miles 864 feet, along the margin of the slope of very 
gentle acclivity, and just upon the border of the meadow grounds 
which occupy the whole space between our line and the To wanda 
creek. The direction for the first 3000 feet varies but very little 
from due south, but tending slightly to the west; it afterwards in¬ 
clines gradually to the west, as the slope of ground sweeps away 
in that direction. 

The surface of this declivity is such as to allow of locating the 
road on any angle of inclination which may be judged desirable; 
and the nature of the soil is entirely favourable for grading. 

The slope towards the level meadow is in angles, varying from 
5 or 6 to 15 or 20 degrees, and consequently will offer no serious 
obstacles to the execution of the work. 

At the end of the level section, the experimental line was found 
to be 2300 feet from the Towanda creek. From this point it was 
traced on a moderate ascent for 2000 feet, until it reached the road 
leading from Towanda to Munroeton, where the latter passes the 
house of G. Bowman; and where the elevation attained was 33,-% 
feet above the level of the base line. From this point to the vil¬ 
lage of Munroeton the distance is 1 mile 3320 feet; and the ele¬ 
vation attained at Johnson’s tavern, in the centre of the village, 
was found to be 71 T V/o feet above our base line. The whole dis¬ 
tance is 4 miles and 904 feet. 

From the last named point the line was carried to the Towanda 
creek, where it is crossed by the bridge on the Berwick turnpike; 
and the water level, at that point, was ascertained to be 58 T Vo 8 o feet 
above the base line. Distance, 1149 feet. 

The slope of ground on the right of the line, thus far traced, is 


25 


such as to allow of locating a rail road on a nearly regular grade, 
from Towanda to the centre of Munroeton; or may, by keeping 
about 60 rods to the right, or northward of the latter village, be 
elevated some distance above its level, in case it should be deemed 
advisable, as seems most probable, to construct this part of the road 
on a grade of considerable elevation. 

From the Berwick turnpike bridge, the line of survey passes 
along the road leading to Mason’s bridge, a distance of 4930 feet, 
and on a bench, level with the floor, and near the eastern extremity 
of the bridge, the elevation above the base line was found to be 99.3 
feet, or ascending at the rate of twenty feet to the mile for the 
whole distance from Towanda. 

From Mason’s bridge two lines were surveyed. The first fol¬ 
lowing the course of the road going up Towanda creek to Lewis’ 
tavern; thence, following the road leading to Mason & Co’s mines, 
to a point marked Station 78, nearly on the highest point of land 
attained by said road, before reaching Northrop’s settlement. 

The other line commences on the bluff of land east of Mason’s 
bridge, at an elevation of 74.561 feet above the bench before men¬ 
tioned; and, consequently, 173.861 feet above the level of To¬ 
wanda, and crossing the Towanda creek at an elevation of S8.4 
feet above low water, pursues a nearly direct course, or curving 
very gradually, for 1 mile and 393 feet in a direction between 
south-west and due west, tending gradually more and more to the 
latter, till it reaches the eastern slope of the valley of Carbon creek; 
thence, curving pretty rapidly to the south, follows afterwards for 
2200 feet, a nearly straight course, till it joins the first mentioned 
line at Station 78. Of this section of 1 mile and 2593 feet, the 
whole, except 1883 feet at the commencement, may be level. On 
that first portion, the grade will be at the rate of 43.3 feet per 
mile. 

To join the eastern end of this line on the bluff near Mason’s 
bridge with Towanda, the mean grade between these two latter 
points would be 37.8 feet per mile. 

From Station 78, the elevation of which is 189.334 feet, the 
line actually traced, followed the direction of the coal road to¬ 
wards Mason’s bed, descending into the valley of Carbon creek, 
near the widow Northrop’s, where it has an elevation at Station 
80, of 152.374 feet, and continued along or near the road, till the 
Millstone run was reached. 

It has not been contemplated to follow exactly this route in lo¬ 
cating the road, but to continue at or near the level of Station 78, 

D 


26 


and to follow the slope of the valley to the left of the coal road, so 
as to preserve in this, as in all other parts of the line, either a 
level or a descending grade, from the coal deposites towards the 
river Susquehanna. 

From Station 78 to Station 89, at Millstone run, the distance is 
6550 feet 3 and the ascent will be 19 x 7 o 9 oV feet. The point of cross¬ 
ing is proposed to be about 350 feet higher up stream than the 
bridge on the coal road. 

From Station 89, over the Millstone, to Station 99, near the 
bridge on Mason’s road over the Carbon creek, the distance is 
5575 feet, and the ascent, in that distance, 19 T y^- feet. 

The bridge, at this point, is proposed to be placed a little higher 
up the stream than the present road bridge, and from this point to 
“ the falls,” and even to Elk lick, the location ought to be entirely 
on the western side of the Carbon. 

From Station 99, the line first levelled followed the coal road 
only 200 feet farther, when it diverged to the left, going up the 
creek to Station 106, where it crossed to Cox’s clearing; thence to 
Station 113, where it again crossed to Ryder’s old clearing; and 
thence on the same side of the stream, to Station 204, above Elk 
lick. At 138 the line first reaches the Company’s lands. At 145 
it comes to Wagner’s Lick creek. The whole distance from Sta¬ 
tion 99 to Station 145, is 9407 feet, or one mile and 4127 feet, and 
the ascent in this distance is 83 fWo feet, or at the average rate of 
46.8 feet to the mile. For the last half mile, however, the grade 
is at the rate of 564 feet to the mile. This comes to the point 
from which the coal and iron deposites of the Company may be 
reached in a horizontal distance of 5900 feet, or l x miles; but 
the course to be pursued will be necessarily somewhat longer, 
and the route will be traversed on self-acting inclined planes, 
overcoming an elevation of 907 feet. As the minerals, both of 
coal and iron ore are already opened at this point, and as the 
quality of the materials already taken from Mason & Co’s mines, 
is well established, it would in all probability be expedient to 
commence an approach to the minerals from this point, rather 
than carry the road higher up the Carbon creek. For the pur¬ 
pose of prosecuting the operations in lumber, it would be ad¬ 
visable to extend the rail road at least as far as the falls, and the 
distance beyond Wagner’s Lick creek to that point, is 3300 feet, 
and the ascent 32 T Vo feet, or at the rate of a little more than 51 
feet to the mile. Along the bottom lands from Station 145 to Sta¬ 
tion 160, near the falls, the road formation will he of easy execu- 



27 


tion, and in no part of the distance already referred to, can it be 
considered difficult, as the excavations, where such may be found 
necessary, will be in the immediate neighbourhood of points where 
the materials excavated will be required for embankment. The 
route surveyed above the falls, continues in part on the bottom 
lands and in part on the slope of the north-westerly side of the 
Carbon creek, ascending with the course of the stream to Elk lick, 
at Station 196, at which the distance above the falls is one mile 
and 2110 feet, and the total ascent GdjoVo feet, giving an average 
of 44.4 feet per mile. 

From this point to the mouth of Fall creek, the survey was 
partly on the right, and partly on the left bank of the Carbon 
creek, and ill carrying a rail road above Elk Lick, I should pro¬ 
pose to cross occasionally the channel of the stream, to avoid steep 
slopes, which approach the margin of the stream on both sides suc¬ 
cessively. 

The distance from the camp at Elk Lick to the mouth of Fall 
creek, is 7090 feet, and the elevation overcome 73 -q- feet, or at 
the rate of 54.2 feet to the mile. 

From Station 234, the mouth of Fall creek, to the termination of 
the Carbon creek levellings, 1600 feet above the Big Eddy, the 
distance is 12,420 feet, or 2 miles and 1870 feet; and the total as¬ 
cent 108.426 feet, or at the rate of 46 x feet per mile. 

The above details will be rendered intelligible by reference to 
the accompanying map, and particularly by an examination of the 
large sectional map, drawn to a scale of 200 feet per inch, which 
is herewith placed in the hands of the directors. 

From the foregoing statements it will be seen, that the following 
table of distances, elevations, and grades, may be taken in locating 
the rail road from the Towanda dam to the upper line of the Com¬ 
pany’s property; the variation from the line actually traced in my 
survey will be such as occasionally to augment the distance from 
point to point, and occasionally to diminish that between other 
points referred to. 


TABLE. 


Points on the line of Survey 
from Towanda up Carbon 
creek. 

Distance in 
ft. from the 
abutmentoi 
Towanda 
Dam. 

Distance in 
miles from 
the Towan¬ 
da dam. 

Partial dis¬ 
tances in 
miles from 
point to 

point. 

Total 
height 
above To¬ 
wanda. 

Partial 
heights of 
tire respec¬ 
tive points. 

Average 
grade per 
mile on 

each divi¬ 
sion. 

From Towanda to 
Point hill, east of Ma¬ 
son’s bridge, at the 
crossing of Towanda 
creek. 

24,300 

4.60 

4.60 

173.861 

173.861 

feet. 

37.79 

To Station 78 on the 
slope of the valley of 
Carbon creek. 

32,143 

6.09 

1.49 

189.334 

15.473 

10.38 

To bridge across 
Millstone run. 

38,693 

7.33 

1.24 

209.130 

19.796 

15.96 

To bridge across 
Carbon creek above 
Henry Northrop’s, Sta¬ 
tion 99. 

44,268 

8.38 

1.05 

228.949 

19.819 

18.88 

To mouth of Wag¬ 
ner’s Lick creek, foot 
of Inclined Plane, to 
reach coal beds. 

53,675 

10.17 

1.79 

312.332 

83.383 

46.6 

To the falls of Car¬ 
bon creek, proposed 
site of Mills. 

57,075 

10.81 

0.64 

344.622 

32.290 

50.45 

To Elk Lick Station 
196. 

64,465 

12.21 

1.40 

408.739 

64.117 

45.8 

To mouth of Fall 
creek Station 234. 

71,560 

13.54 

1.33 

481.821 

73.092 

54.95 

To Station 243, and 
bench above Big Ed¬ 
dy. 

83,980 

15.90 

2.36 

590.247 

108.426 

45.94 


From the foregoing table it will be seen, that a rail road to be 
traversed by locomotives, and of little more than ten miles in 
length, will reach an eligible site for receiving the coal and other 
minerals contained in the beds now worked on the northerly side 
of the Carbon creek. From that site, which is 312$ feet above 
Towanda, the mineral beds will be reached by means of a succes¬ 
sion of self-acting inclined planes, overcoming an elevation of 
about 907 feet, for the highest portions of the coal formation, and 
about 750 feet, to the lower bed of coal, iron ore, &c. The po¬ 
sition above designated, will enable the Company to approach 












































































29 


their mineral deposites on the south-eastern side of the Carbon 
creek, as well as on the north-western. The direct horizontal 
distance to either of the abovementioned coal deposites, does not 
much exceed one mile from the mouth of Wagner’s Lick creek. 
The valley of this creek will afford the means of connecting 
the rail road at its mouth, not only with that part of the mineral 
beds which is commonly known as Mason’s mines, but also with 
an extensive bed lying westwardly of these, between the heads of 
Wagner’s run and Long Valley creeks. 

Should the route from Mason’s bridge westward, to which I 
have given the preference, be adopted, it may be found for the in¬ 
terest of the Company, as well as of the citizens of Munroeton, to 
construct a branch which will not require to be more than sixty 
or eighty rods in length, to connect that village directly with 
the general line on the north. And though upon the grade 
above recommended for this part of the road, it will lie some feet 
above the' level of the village, yet as such branch would be mostly 
traversed by horse power, it would present no serious obstacle to 
profitable use. If a high grade be found expedient, it will be no 
higher than is often adopted in the neighbourhood of mines, and 
through the streets of our cities. 

The accompanying profile of the main line of rail road will 
show that its grade is much lower than that of several roads in our 
country, which have both an ascending and a descending trade; 
while here the whole trade being in the descending direction, the 
empty trains only will have to be drawn upward on grades not 
elsewhere deemed incompatible with the ascent of loaded trains. 
Scarcely any power but that of gravitation will be required to 
propel the loaded trains from the mines to the Susquehanna. 

BRIDGES. 

The principal bridges required on the rail road, will be three; 
one over the Towanda creek, 700 or 800 feet long; one over 
the Millstone run, about 75 feet long; and one over the Car¬ 
bon creek, about 150 feet in length. A number of small tribu¬ 
taries and ravines will require either culverts or bridges of infe-' 
rior dimensions, and the amount of bridge work may be varied as 
the comparative expensiveness of embankment and of bridge-mak¬ 
ing in the particular situation shall be found to give a preference 
to the one or the other construction. The great abundance of 
timber , w T hich must be removed to give place to the Company’s 
establishments, will no doubt favour the use of bridges wherever 


30 


they can be advantageously substituted, for fillings in the ravines 
which occasionally cross the route of the rail road. The mills 
about to be erected, will enable the Company to prepare their 
bridge timber at the most reasonable rates, and by commencing 
the road on the upper sections near the falls of Carbon creek, 
the road itself will greatly facilitate the construction of its own 
bridges, by the easy transportation of their materials. 

As the foregoing surveys were altogether experimental, and as 
no actual locations were required, I did not enter into such details 
in regard to the amount of cutting and embankment, or the num¬ 
ber and size of culverts, which may be found necessary, as would 
enable me to estimate with precision, the expense of constructing 
each part of the road. 

In regard to the value of land for which damages may be claim¬ 
ed, I may remark that the location which I have contemplated, es¬ 
pecially between the Susquehanna river and Mason’s bridge, is 
such as to avoid the valuable meadow lands, and adhere to the 
edge of the slope, on which neither at present, nor probably at 
any future time, could a high value be placed. While this will 
relieve proprietors of all apprehension on the score of injury to 
their fields, gardens and buildings, it will relieve the Company 
from a considerable item of expense, to which they might other¬ 
wise be liable. A similar remark may be applied to the route 
proposed to be followed between Mason’s bridge and the Mill¬ 
stone run, on the whole of which distance the road can be located 
on ground almost altogether valueless for agricultural purposes, 
while at the same time it is greatly preferable to any other route 
for the road in question. 

Beyond the Millstone run, it is confidently believed, that all the 
land over which the road will pass, will be absolutely benefited by 
its construction, as it will afford the proprietors an opportunity of 
forwarding, by an easy transportation, the products of their land 
to a highly eligible market. I cannot conceive that damage to the 
amount of 1000 dollars should be done to all the lands over which 
I propose to locate the road, between Towanda and the Company’s 
own property, on the Carbon creek. On the contrary, I feel 
assured that if every proprietor on the line were to release, uncon¬ 
ditionally, all claims for damages, he would, from the increased 
value of property, consequent on the establishment of extensive 
coal and iron works in his vicinity, be greatly benefited by the 
transaction. 

In laying out the road, it will, perhaps, be advisable to appro- 


31 


priate the usual amount of land required for a double track road; 
but I would not recommend, at present, the construction of more 
than a single track, except at short sections, for the passing and 
repassing of trains, for which operation arrangements can always 
be so made as to avoid interference. 

Simultaneously with the commencement of operations at the 
upper section of the road, it may be well to begin the embank¬ 
ment and bridge masonry over the Towanda creek. 

In endeavouring to give an approximate estimate of the cost of 
constructing a rail road, I have taken into view the circumstances 
abovementioned, and the route designated in the preceding re¬ 
marks. It will be understood, that it is contemplated to make, in 
all parts, a plain but durable structure, and that useless or fanciful 
appendages will be avoided, as equally incompatible with the 
situation and purposes of the road, and with the interests of the 
Company. 

The self-acting inclined planes, to connect the western extremity 
of the main line of road with the mineral ground, can be con¬ 
structed at as little expense, as in any situation where similar 
works have been undertaken, and they will, doubtless, be found as 
effective and economical, as any species of power which could be 
employed on an equal length of horizontal road. A great differ¬ 
ence is found between inclined planes which are self-acting , 
and those which require the maintenance of a costly stationary 
power for their operation. 

By computing the probable amount of excavation and embank¬ 
ment, where little or no hauling will be required, but only the 
work of common labourers, at \2\ cents per cubic yard, I find it 


will amount to------- 

_ t 

% Excavation and embankment, with hauling, from 
100 to 600 yards, at 16 cents, - 

The bridge masonry, at $2 50 per perch, will 
probably not fall much short of - 

Bridge superstructure, allowing the timber to be 
taken from the Company’s property, and prepared 
at their mills, computed at $10 per lineal foot of 
bridge, may cost ------ 

11.83 miles of edge rails, required for a single 
track road and turnouts, at 50lbs. to the yard, 743 
tons, at 70 dollars per ton, - 


$7,940 98 


12,902 96 


6,650 00 


10,250 00 


52,010 00 


$89,753 94 



32 


As the timber for the superstructure may be all procured imme¬ 
diately on the line, the cost of this item will be very low; and 
should the Company determine on the adoption of a flat rail, similar 
to that of the Williamsport and Elmira Rail Road, viz. inches 
wide, by | of an inch thick, the weight will be reduced from 40 
to 171bs. per yard, and the expense for iron, from $52,010, to 
$22,104. As experience has demonstrated the error committed 
in the early stages of our rail road operations, in laying down 
inadequate flat bars on wooden rails, causing great expense and 
inconvenience, I would not recommend one of less weight than 
that just named. This deduction brings the cost of the above items 
down to - -- -- -- - $59,848 

The cost of engineering, the labour of laying the 
superstructure, with the materials for the same, and that 
of fencing, and miscellaneous items, may amount to - 20,000 

Making, - $79,848 

From all the preceding statements and representations, I need 
hardly add the expression of my conviction that the value and re¬ 
sources of the Company’s domain are such, as to warrant the prose¬ 
cution to immediate usefulness of the works required to bring 
these resources to their appropriate market. The increased hazard 
in other species of investment, must, I am persuaded, ere long, 
turn the attention, and the capital of our enterprising citizens, 
towards those objects, in regard to which, fluctuations are less fre¬ 
quent and disastrous than in many of those branches of business 
in which so large a portion of capital has hitherto been absorbed, 
and so much loss and disappointment incurred. Yours will be 
the employment of a most useful species of our national industry, 
for the supply of an ample demand in the immediate neighbour¬ 
hood of your own works. 

I remain, gentlemen, 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

WALTER R. JOHNSON. 


Philadelphia , March , 1840. 




ADDENDA. 


The foregoing pages were mostly struck off before the proofs 
had been submitted to the inspection of the writer, and a few of 
the analyses, not quite completed when the Report was first sub¬ 
mitted, but which were to have been added on reading the first 
proof, appear incomplete; this is particularly the case with the 


coals, Nos. 7 and 8. They are added below. 



Result of assay of coal, No. 7, (page 12.) 



Matter volatile at 390°, - 

0.6 

per cent, 

Vapours condensable, - 

2.8 


Uncondensable gaseous matter, 

15.4 

?> 

Carbon, ------ 

68.1 

?? 

Earthy matter, - 

13.1 

?? 


100.0 



The ashes of this coal are white, slightly inclining to buff, mo¬ 
derately bulky. 


Results of assay of coal, No. S, (page 13.) 


Water lost at 340°, - 

2.1 ] 

Volatile matter expelled in coking, 

16.8 

Carbon, ----- 

68.57 

Earthy matter, - 

12.53 


100.00 




The ashes of this coal are of a white colour, rather inclining to 
gray, and not remarkably heavy. 

Experiments to detect the presence of sulphur succeeded in 
giving faint traces of that ingredient. 

From all the analyses of coal detailed in this Report, we have 
the following table of general results. 


E 





34 


No. 

Carbon. 

Volatile matter. 

Earthy matter. 

1 

62.6 

15.0 

22.4 

2 

70.0 

17.4 

12.6 

3 

63.9 

19.1 

17.0 

4 

68.1 

20.5 

11.4 

5 

65.5 

19.2 

15.3 

6 

74.97 

19.3 

5.73 

7 

69.0 

17.9 

13.1 

8 

68.57 

18.9 

12.53 

Mean 

67.83 

18.41 

13.76 


Thus it appears that the quantity of volatile matter in this coal, 
is small compared with that of most other bituminous coals of our 
country. Being situated on the eastern extremity of the first 
principal range of bituminous coal formations west of the Susque¬ 
hanna river, it adds another to the many evidences which have 
been derived from my own experiments in proof of the position 
long since advanced, that the quantity of volatile matter in the 
coals of Pennsylvania, and other states, gradually increases as we 
advance from the Atlantic region across and beyond the Allegheny 
mountain, over the great coal fields of the western and north¬ 
western states. 

This law becomes the more striking when the anthracite fields 
are embraced with the bituminous, for there we have a series com¬ 
mencing almost at zero, and proceeding upwards in the scale of vola¬ 
tility, till, in some of the coals of Kentucky, Illinois, &c., it attains 
a maximum of 48 or 50 per cent. The circumstance of possessing 
but a moderate share of bituminousness, is favourable to the appli¬ 
cation of the coals of this region to the purposes of iron manufac¬ 
ture, and though the per centage of earthy matter is higher than 
that of some other coals, yet it will be recollected that nearly all 
the samples are taken from points near the outcrop of the respec¬ 
tive beds, and that consequently the relative proportion of earthy 
matter is likely to be higher than would result from the coals 
taken a few hundred feet from the edge of the same beds. 


ERRATA. 

At page 7, line 12, for u lower” read higher. 

At page 10, line 9, for “ beds” read localities. 

At page 15, line 22, for “ 18 feet below” read 46f feet above. 
At page 15, line 23, for “ 1092” read 1158. 

At page 17, line 1, for “ other” read rather. 






APPENDIX. 


Extract from the Report of the Canal Commissioners of 
Pennsylvania, Messrs. James Clark, Edward B. Hub- 
ley, arid William F. Packer, for 1839 . 

“The design of the Legislature in authorizing the extension of 
the North Branch division to the State line, was to effect a con¬ 
nexion between the improvements of New York and Pennsylva¬ 
nia. This connexion is of immense importance to the interests of 
both States. It will not only add materially to the business done 
on the public improvements of both, but to the permanent wealth 

of large sections of the territory of each. 

* * * * * * * 

“During the past summer, the Board visited and examined the 
country around the northern termination of this line of improve¬ 
ments, as well as the contemplated connexions with it in New 
York. That State has already extended her improvements so as 
to intersect the Susquehanna by canals at two points, viz.—by the 
Chenango Canal from Utica on the Erie Canal, to Binghampton 
on the Susquehanna, thirty-nine miles from the State line, near 
Athens: and also from Montezuma on the Erie Canal, by Seneca 
Lake and the Chemung Canal, to Elmira on the Chemung branch 
of the Susquehanna, sixteen miles above the State line, near 
Athens. A connexion has also been formed from Montezuma, 
by the Cayuga Lake and the Ithaca and Owego Rail Road, to 
Owego on the Susquehanna, eighteen miles from the State line. 
By surveys made under the direction of the Canal Commissioners 
of New York, it has been ascertained that a connexion, by either 
of these routes, is entirely practicable; and from the deep interest 
which that State has in accomplishing that object, this Board can 
entertain no doubt that it will, before long, be undertaken and 



36 


completed. It is submitted to the Legislature, whether sound 
policy does not require the adoption of measures, on the part of 
Pennsylvania, to secure concert of action between that State and 
this.” 


OBSERVATIONS. 

It will be seen, by an inspection of the map of New York, that 
when the connexion shall be completed between the great State 
works of New York and Pennsylvania, by the extension of the 
Chenango Canal from Binghampton, the coal of Bradford County, 
occupying the north-easternmost portion of the great bituminous 
field, will command the market of the whole valley of the Che¬ 
nango and adjacent country to Utica, and eastward, being about 
fifty miles nearer than any other mineral coal: and it will also, in 
conjunction with the coal of Tioga County, supply the demand 
hereafter to arise at the great salines of Syracuse and its vicinity, 
without the possibility of competition. That a due estimate may 
be formed of the importance of this market, the following statis¬ 
tics obtained on the spot, during the past summer, may be useful. 
It was ascertained that there were then in operation, in the towns 
of Salina, Syracuse, Liverpool, and Geddes, all in one vicinity, 
two hundred salt factories, consuming an aggregate of more than 
four hundred thousand cords of wood per annum, and the con¬ 
sumption annually increasing. This enormous demand for wood 
has swept off the forests from the circumjacent country, far and 
wide: and the principal supplies of that article are now obtained 
from the vicinity of Lake Ontario, by the Owego Canal. 

This latter region will also soon be denuded by such an exhaust¬ 
ing consumption, and the bituminous coal of Bradford and Tioga 
will then be indispensable for the continuance of this important 
manufacture. In addition to the ample market which will be open¬ 
ed in western New York, upon the completion of the connecting 
links between the canals of that State and our North Branch, it 
will be observed, that looking southward to the markets of our 
own city and New York, by the North Branch Canal, and the 
connecting improvements of the Lehigh Company, which they 
anticipate will be completed by September next (see their late 
Report)—“The bituminous coal of Bradford County,” says their 



37 


Report, “will, by this route, be the nearest coal of that description 
to the markets of Philadelphia and New York,” and a large de¬ 
mand may be reasonably anticipated. 


TABLE OF DISTANCES. 

Mii eS4 

From the mouth of Wagoner’s Lick Creek, near the coal 
beds of the Towanda Coal Company, to the borough of 
Towanda, by the contemplated Rail Road, is about - 10 

From Towanda to Athens, by the North Branch Canal, - 15 

From Athens to Owego, by the contemplated extension of 

the Chenango Canal, - - - - - - 19 

From Owego to Binghampton, by the same, - - - 21 

65 

From Binghampton to Syracuse and Salina, 80 

Total, 145 


Miles. 

From Wagoner’s Lick Creek to Athens, 25 

From Athens to the State line on the Tioga, - 4 

Thence to Elmira, by the proposed Chemung extension, 16 

Thence by Chemung Canal to Havanna, on Seneca Lake, IS 
Thence by steam tow-boat to Geneva, 35 

Total, 98 

Miles. 

From Wagoner’s Lick Creek to Owego, - 44 

Thence to Ithaca by rail road, - - - - - 29! 

Thence by steam tow-boat to Falls Creek, junction of Erie 

canal, - - - - - -• - -40 


Total, 113! 


The following statistics are extracted from the Lycoming Chro¬ 
nicle of January 28, 1835, containing the results of the investiga¬ 
tions of intelligent committees appointed to ascertain the probable 
consumption of bituminous coal in the region west of Albany. 
The committee, at Elmira, state, “ It has now been shown, and 





38 


founded upon the best calculations within reach of your Commit¬ 


tee, that there is at present required, for 

Tons Coal. 

Smiths’ use, ------- 53,000 

Salt works, - - - - . - - 33,000 

Furnaces and other manufactories, - 25,000 

Domestic purposes, ----- 30,000 


Total coal, - - 141,000 


For the supply of the country west of Utica, and 30,000 tons of 
iron and castings.” 

The committee at Geneva, at the same time, made the follow¬ 
ing estimate of demand, for 

Tons Coal and Iron. 


Ontario county, - 

- 

12,000 

Seneca and Cayuga, 

- 

20,000 

Onondaga and Oswego, 

- 

38,000 

Madison and Lewis, 

- 

16,000 

Oneida and Jefferson, 

- 

24,000 

Wayne and Munroe, 

- 

20,000 

Livingston and Orleans, 

- 

10,000 

Genesee and Yates, 

- 

14,000 

Total coal and iron, 

- 

154,000 


There is good reason to believe that the country 
east of Utica, would annually consume of 
bituminous coal, - 100,000 

Total coal and iron, 




254,000 





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TOWANDA RAIL ROAD AND COAL COMPANY. 


AN ACT 


To incorporate the Towanda Rail Road and Coal Company. 

Section 1 . Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General 
Assembly met , and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the 
same , That Bartholomew Wistar, William L. Newbold, Daniel 
Trotter, Charles Barrington, Robert Bell, Charles Holmes, Thomas 
Hayes, David Cash, John N. Weston, David M. Bull, Henry 
Drinker, James C. Biddle, Thomas Elliott, Nathaniel Clapp, James 
P. Bull, Gorden F. Mason, and their associates, successors, and 
assigns, be, and they are hereby constituted a body politic and cor¬ 
porate, by the name, style, and title of the Towanda Rail Road 
and Coal Company, for the purpose of constructing a rail road, as 
hereinafter is provided; and also for the purpose of mining coal, 
and for transacting the usual business of companies engaged in 
mining, transporting, and selling coal, and the other products of 
coal lands; and the said corporation, by the said name, is hereby 
declared and made capable in law, to sue and be sued, to plead and 
be impleaded, to have a common seal, and the same to alter and 
renew at pleasure, to make rules and by-laws for the regulation 
and management of the said corporation, consistent with the laws 
of the United States, and of this Commonwealth, and generally to 
do and execute, for the well being of said Company, whatever 
shall lawfully pertain to bodies politic: Provided , That nothing 
herein contained, shall be considered as in any way giving to said 
Company any banking privileges, or any other privileges or fran¬ 
chises, but such as are incident to making and maintaining said 
road, and the conveyance of passengers, goods, and commodities 
thereon, and the transaction of the business of coal companies; but 
they shall be exclusively confined to the operations pertaining to 
the business aforesaid, according to the true intent and meaning of 
this act: And provided, also , That each stockholder shall be lia¬ 
ble, in his individual capacity, for the debts and performance of 



40 


all contracts entered into by the said Company, to the amount of 
the balance unpaid on the stock of said stockholder. 

Sect. 2. The said Company shall have the right to hold, either 
by purchase or lease, not exceeding three thousand acres of land, 
at any one time; the whole to be within the county of Bradford, 
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and the same, or any part 
thereof, to sell or otherwise dispose of, as the interest of the Com¬ 
pany may require: Provided , That the said Company may hold, 
as above, such lot or lots of land, not exceeding five acres in any 
one place, as may be found convenient as places of deposit, in the 
transportation and sale of the products of their mines. 

Sect. 3. The capital stock of said Company shall be and consist 
of three hundred thousand dollars, and shall be divided into six 
thousand shares, of fifty dollars each; which capital stock shall 
only be employed in constructing rail roads, in the holding and 
purchasing the lands aforesaid, with the improvements, if any, 
thereon, and in constructing such other improvements, building 
cars, boats, engines, and machinery, as may be necessary or useful 
for constructing said rail road, and for the mining, transportation, 
and sale of coal, and in the payments of such salaries, wages, and 
other expenditures, as shall be requisite for the purposes aforesaid 
of the Company; and said stock shall be assignable and transfer¬ 
able, according to such rules as the board of directors shall establish. 

Sect. 4. When the above named Bartholomew Wistar, Wil¬ 
liam L. Newbold, Daniel Trotter, Charles Barrington, Robert Bell, 
Charles Holmes, Thomas Hayes, David Cash, John N. Weston, 
James P. Bull, Gorden F. Mason, David M. Bull, Henry Drinker, 
James C. Biddle, Thomas Elliott, Nathaniel Clapp, and their asso¬ 
ciates, shall have subscribed the whole number of shares aforesaid, 
and actually paid and expended not less than fifteen per cent, of 
the capital aforesaid, in purchasing lands, and in such other invest¬ 
ments as are authorized by this act for the use of said Company, 
the governor, on due evidence thereof, shall, by letters patent, 
under his hand and the seal of the State, create and erect the said 
Bartholomew Wistar, William L. Newbold, Daniel Trotter, Charles 
Barrington, Robert Bell, Charles Holmes, Thomas Hayes, David 
Cash, John N. Weston, James P. Bull, Gorden F. Mason, David 
M. Bull, Henry Drinker, James C. Biddle, Thomas Elliott, Na¬ 
thaniel Clapp, and their associates, successors, and assigns, into one 
body corporate, by the name, style, and title of the Towanda Rail 
Road and Coal Company. 

Sect. 5. The affairs of the said Company shall be managed by 


41 


seven directors, to be chosen annually from the stockholders; the 
first election shall be held in the city of Philadelphia, within sixty 
days after letters patent aforesaid shall have issued; of which elec¬ 
tion, public notice shall be given by four or more of the corpora¬ 
tors named in the first section of this act, at least two weeks prior 
thereto, in one newspaper printed in the county of Bradford, and 
two or more newspapers printed in the city of Philadelphia; and 
the subsequent elections shall be held annually, at such convenient 
time and place as the directors shall determine; of which thirty 
days’ previous notice shall, in like manner, be given by the presi¬ 
dent of said Company, or by any five of the directors: Provided , 
That in the event of a failure to hold such election, the former 
directors may continue in office for a period not exceeding six 
months, or until such election shall be held. 

Sect. 6. The election for directors shall be held by ballot, and 
each stockholder shall be entitled to vote according to the number 
of shares held by said stockholder, in the proportion following, 
that is to say: for each share, not exceeding four shares, one vote; 
for every four shares above ten, and not exceeding thirty, one vote; 
for every ten shares above thirty, and not exceeding one hundred, 
one vote; for every twenty shares above one hundred, one vote. 
No share shall confer a right of voting, which shall not have been 
transferred at least three calendar months prior to the day of elec¬ 
tion, nor unless it be bona fide held, or owned by the person in 
whose name it appears, in his own right, or in that of his wife, or 
for his or her sole use and benefit, or as executor or administrator, 
trustee, or guardian, or in the right of, and for the use and benefit 
of some copartnership, society or corporation, of which he or she 
may be a member; and all votes by proxy, shall be on such terms 
and conditions as are prescribed by the act of twenty-eighth of 
March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, entitled “An act 
to regulate proxies.” 

Sect. 7. The directors shall, as soon as convenient after their 
election, choose one of their number as President, to serve for one 
year. They shall also have power to appoint, as occasion may 
require, all other officers and agents of the Company, and to supply 
vacancies in the Board, arising from death, resignation, or other¬ 
wise, until the next annual election; at all meetings of the Board, 
four directors shall form a quorum to transact business. 

Sect. 8 . The directors may, from time to time, call in, on thirty 
days’ notice thereof, in at least one newspaper printed in the 
county of Bradford, and two daily papers printed in the city of 

F 


42 


Philadelphia, such instalments on the stock of said Company as 
they may judge best, not exceeding twenty per cent, thereof, at 
any one time and place appointed; and if any instalment on the 
stock so called in, shall remain unpaid for the space of thirty days 
after the time so appointed, every such stockholder, or his or her 
assignee, shall, in addition to the instalment so called for, pay at 
the rate of two per centum per month, for the delay of such pay¬ 
ment; and if the same and additional penalty remain unpaid for 
such length of time, as that the accumulated penalty shall become 
equal to the sums before paid in part, and on account of such 
shares, the same shall be forfeited to the said Company, and may 
be sold to any person or persons willing to purchase, for such price 
as can be obtained for the same; or in default of payment by any 
stockholder, of any such instalment, as aforesaid, the president and 
directors may, at their election, cause suit to be brought before an 
alderman, or justice of the peace, or in any court having compe¬ 
tent jurisdiction, for the recovery of the same, together with the 
penalty aforesaid: Provided , That no stockholder, whether an 
original subscriber or assignee, shall be entitled to vote at any 
election, or at any general or special meeting of the said Company, 
on whose share or shares, any instalments or arrearages may be 
due and payable, more than thirty days previously to said election 
or meeting. 

Sect. 9. Dividends of so much of the profits of the Company, 
as shall appear to the directors advisable, shall be declared twice a 
year, and paid to the stockholders or their legal representatives, 
on demand, at any time after the expiration of ten days, after 
having been declared; but said dividend shall in no case exceed 
the amount of the nett profit actually acquired by the Company, 
so that the capital stock shall never be thereby impaired; and if 
any dividend shall be declared, which shall impair the capital stock 
of said Company, the directors consenting thereto shall be liable, 
in their individual capacities, to said Company for the amount of 
stock so divided; and each director present, when such dividend 
shall be declared, shall be adjudged consenting thereto, unless he 
shall forthwith give public notice to the stockholders of the de¬ 
claring of such dividend: Provided, That whenever the dividends 
shall exceed six per cent, per annum, the said Company shall pay 
a tax of eight per cent, on all such dividends into the treasury of 
the State, for the purposes of education; and the president or 
secretary of said Company shall annually, in the month of January, 
transmit to the Legislature, under oath or affirmation, a statement 


43 


of the receipts and expenditures thereof, and of any dividends that 
may have been declared during the preceding year. 

Sect. 10. The Company hereby incorporated, shall have power 
to survey, lay down, and ascertain such route as they shall deem 
expedient for a rail road, with double or single track, beginning at 
a convenient point on the Pennsylvania Canal, at or near the 
borough of Towanda, in Bradford county, and to extend the same 
to the coal lands in Franklin township, in said county, and shall 
have the right of extending said road, or of constructing lateral rail 
roads therefrom, to such coal mines in said township, or its vicinity, 
as from time to time may be found expedient, with the right also 
to extend the same, so as to form a junction with the Williamsport 
and Elmira Rail Road, at such part thereof as they may find prac¬ 
ticable; and the said rail road shall not pass through any burial 
ground, place of public worship, or dwelling house, without the 
consent of the owner; and the said Company shall, within six 
months after ascertaining the route of said rail road, cause an accu¬ 
rate survey of the lines of said road to be made, a map or plot of 
which survey, they shall cause to be filed in the office of the Secre¬ 
tary of State; which map or plot, or certified copy thereof, shall 
be sufficient evidence of the route of said road, which may then be 
opened, and all the expenses thereof shall be defrayed by said 
Company. 

Sect. Hi That the said Company shall have power, by them¬ 
selves or agents, to enter in and upon such lands as may be neces¬ 
sary to make the rail road aforesaid, and also have liberty of taking 
from any land in the neighbourhood, gravel, stone, wood, or other 
materials necessary for the construction of said rail road, paying, 
if the owner of said land and said Company can agree, the damages 
they shall do to said lands; or, if they cannot agree thereon, the 
damages shall be ascertained in the manner hereinafter prescribed,- 
as to the compensation for lands over which said rail road shall 
be laid. 

Sect. 12. That whenever it shall be necessary for the said 
Company to enter in and upon and occupy, for the purpose of 
making said rail road, any land upon which the same may be 
located, if the owner or owners of said land shall refuse to permit 
such entry and occupation, and the parties cannot agree upon the 
compensation to be made for any injury or supposed injury that 
may be done to said land, by such entry and occupation, then it 
shall be lawful for the court of common pleas of the county in 
which the land lies, on application of either party, and at the cost 


44 


and charges of said corporation, to award a venire directed to the 
sheriff of the county, requiring him to summon a jury of disinte¬ 
rested men to view, examine, and survey the said lands, tenements, 
or hereditaments, and estimate the injury or damages, if any, that 
in their opinion will be sustained, as aforesaid, by reason of said 
rail road, and report the same, under their oaths and affirmations, 
to the said court; which report being confirmed by the said court, 
judgment shall be entered thereon; and the said sheriff and jurors 
shall be entitled to the like fees for their services, as are allowed 
by law, in other cases of special juries, to be paid by said Com¬ 
pany; and it shall be the duty of the said jury, in estimating such 
injury or damage, to take into consideration the advantage that 
will be derived to the said owner or owners of such lands, from 
said rail road: Provided , That either party may appeal to the 
court, within thirty days after such report shall have been filed in 
the prothonotary’s office of the proper county, in the same man¬ 
ner as appeals are allowed in other cases; and upon the filing of 
such report or inquisition, and the confirmation thereof, or upon 
final judgment, on appeal therefrom, and the said Company paying 
to such owner the amount in said report or judgment specified, in 
full compensation for said lands, or for the injury sustained, as 
aforesaid, the said Company shall become seized of the same estate 
in the said lands which the owner held in the same; and they, and 
all who act under them, shall be acquitted, and freed from all 
responsibility, for or on account of such injury: Provided , That 
the payment of damages aforesaid, for the land through which the 
said road may be laid, shall be made before the said Company or 
any person under their direction, or in their employ, shall be 
authorized to enter upon or break ground in the premises, except 
for the purpose of surveying and laying out said road, unless the 
consent of the owner or owners be first obtained. 

Sect. 13 . That the said rail road shall be so constructed, as not 
to impede or obstruct the free use or passage of anjr public road or 
. roads, which may cross or enter the same; and in all cases where 
the said rail road may cross, or in any manner interfere with any 
existing public road, the said Company shall make, or cause to be 
made, a good and sufficient causeway or causeways, to enable per¬ 
sons passing or travelling said public roads, to cross and pass under 
or over the said rail road; and if the said Company shall neglect or 
refuse to keep such way or causeways in good repair, they shall 
be liable to a penalty of ten dollars, for every day the same shall 
be so neglected, or refused to be repaired, to be recovered by the 


45 


supervisors of the township, with costs, for the use of the town¬ 
ship, as debts of like amount are by law recoverable; and shall, 
moreover, be liable to all actions, at the suit of any person who 
may be aggrieved thereby. 

Sect. 14. That for the accommodation of all persons owning or 
possessing land, through which the said rail road may pass, it 
shall be the duty of the said Company to make, or cause to be 
made, a good and sufficient causeway or causeways, wherever the 
same may be necessary, to enable the occupant or occupants of 
said lands to cross or pass over the same with wagons, carts, and 
implements of husbandry, as occasion may require; and the said 
causeway or causeways, when so made, shall be maintained and 
kept in good repair by said Company; and if the said Company 
shall neglect or refuse, on request, to make such causeway or 
causeways, or, when made, to keep the same in good order, the 
said Company shall be liable to pay any person aggrieved thereby, 
all damages sustained by such person, in consequence of such 
neglect or refusal, to be paid for and recovered before any magis¬ 
trate or court having cognizance thereof: Provided, That the said 
Company shall in no case be required to make, or cause to be 
made, more than one causeway through each plantation or lot of 
land, for the accommodation of any one person owning or possessing 
land through which said rail road may pass; and when any public 
road shall cross said rail road, the person owning or possessing 
land through which said public road shall pass, shall not be entitled 
to require the Company to erect, or keep in repair, any causeway 
or bridges, for the accommodation of the occupant of said land: 
Provided, further, That in the event of any private bridge or 
causeway being converted to public use, so as to be made to accom¬ 
modate a public road laid out subsequent to the passage of this act, 
then, and in such case, the Company shall be forever thereafter 
exonerated from the duty of keeping the said bridge or causeway 
in repair. 

Sect. 15. No suit or action shall be brought or prosecuted by 
any person or persons, for any penalties incurred under this act, 
unless such suit or action shall be commenced within ten months 
next after the offence shall be committed, or the cause of action 
shall have accrued; and the defendant or defendants in such suit 
or action, may plead the general issue, and give this act and the 
special matter in evidence, and that the same was done in pursu¬ 
ance and by authority of this act. 

Sect. 16. If any person or persons shall wilfully and know- 


46 


ingly break, injure, or destroy the rail road, or any part thereof 
to be erected by the said Company, in pursuance of this act, he, 
she, or they, shall forfeit and pay to the said Company, three 
times the actual damages so sustained, to be sued for and reco¬ 
vered, with costs of suit, in any court having cognizance thereof, 
by action of debt, in the name and for the use of said Company. 

Sect. 17. The said Company shall be entitled to receive toll 
from all persons travelling on said road, that is to say: on each ton 
of coal, one and a half cents per mile; on each ton of salt, gyp¬ 
sum, and lime, two cents per mile; on brick, two cents per ton 
per mile; lumber, square and round, for every hundred feet solid, 
two cents; on boards, planks, scantling, or other sawed stuff, re¬ 
duced to inch stuff, two cents for every thousand feet per mile; on 
shingles, per thousand, one and a half cents per mile; on staves 
and heading, for pipes and hogsheads, per mile, two cents per 
thousand staves; and headings for barrels, and other vessels of less 
size, one cent per mile per thousand; for all other articles not 
enumerated, three cents per ton per mile; on all single and de¬ 
tached articles, weighing less than a ton, it shall be lawful to 
charge and receive, on the transport thereof, an advance of ten 
per cent, on the rates, as above stated. 

Sect. 18 . That in all suits or actions which may be brought 
against said Company, the service of process upon any manager, 
toll-gatherer, or other officer of the Company, shall be as good and 
available in law, as if made on the president thereof. 

Sect. 19. That the said road shall be a public highway. On 
the completion of a section of five miles or more of the rail road, 
all transportation on the same, of whatever nature or kind, shall 
be carried on and conducted under the superintendence and direc¬ 
tion of said Company, who shall make rules for the regulation of 
all travelling and transportation on the same, and alter the same as 
they may deem expedient; and it shall be lawful for any Company 
that may be hereafter incorporated by any law of this Common¬ 
wealth, or any individual or individuals, to intersect said rail road 
or rail roads, at any place where it may be deemed expedient, so 
that the same may be in such manner as not to injure the same. 

Sect. 20. This act shall continue in force until the first day of 
May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
sixty-four, and no longer; and if the said corporation shall not com¬ 
mence the construction of the said rail road within the term of 
three years, and complete the same as far as the coal lands in Frank- 


47 


lin township, within seven years from the passage of this act, then 
this charter shall be null and void. 

Sect. 21 . If any increase of capital stock be deemed necessary 
by the stockholders to complete the said rail road, or to extend 
the same, it may be lawful for the said Company, at a stated or 
special meeting to be convened for the purpose, to increase the 
number of shares, so that, in the whole, they shall not exceed ten 
thousand shares; and to receive and demand, for shares so sub¬ 
scribed, the moneys in like manner, and under like penalties, as is 
hereinbefore provided for the original subscription, or as shall be 
provided for by their by-laws. 

Sect. 22. The Legislature hereby reserve the right to amend, 
alter, and repeal the charter hereby granted, whenever they think 
proper, in such manner, however, that no injustice may be done to 
the corporators; and the Legislature reserves the right to pur¬ 
chase the said road, at any time after twenty years from the pas¬ 
sage of this act, by paying to the said Company a sum of money, 
which, together with the tolls received, shall equal the cost and 
expenses of said rail road, with an interest of six per cent, per 
annum thereon. 

WILLIAM HOPKINS, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

P. S. MICHLER, 

Speaker of the Senate, pro tern. 

Approved—the twelfth day of June, eighteen hundred and 
thirty-nine. 

DAVID R. PORTER. 


Pennsylvania, ss. Secretary's Office. 

I do certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of the 
original act of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, as 
the same remains on file in this office. 


In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, 
and affixed the seal of said office, at Harrisburg, the 
twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, and of the Commonwealth 
the sixty-third. 


FR. R. SHUNK, 

Secretary of Commonwealth. 






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R E P O R T 


OF A 

SURVEY AND EXPLORATION 


OF THE 


COAL AND ORE LANDS, 


BELONGING TO THE 

<£oal @owimni>, 


IN 

SOMERSET COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 

ACCOMPANIED BY MAPS, PROFILES, AND SECTIONS'. 


4 --" 

- 

BY WALTER R. JOHNSON, A. M. 

PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, IN THE MEDICAL DEPART 
MENT OF PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, PHILADELPHIA. 


HhflatolpWa: 

PRINTED BY JOSEPH & WILLIAM KITE, 

SEVENTH AND CARPENTER STREETS. 


1841. 


c 











REPORT. 


To the Allegheny Coal Company. 
Gentlemen: 

Haying examined and surveyed the lands con¬ 
stituting your domain, situated in Southampton 
township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, I beg 
leave to offer the following results of my investi¬ 
gations. 

The plan of conducting this survey was, after 
having made some preliminary reconnoissances 
to obtain a general knowledge of the struc¬ 
ture of the country, and the limits of the mineral 
deposits, to determine the general direction of the 
strata, and their inclination in different parts of the 
region. These points having been approximate¬ 
ly decided, the next object was, to fix by care¬ 
ful survey and levelling, the relative positions of 
the several beds, and of the interposed strata of 
rocks. This purpose was effected by carrying 
lines longitudinally and transversely over the 
main dividing ridge between the waters of Jen- 
ning’s and Gladden’s run, from the Little Alle¬ 
gheny, to the Savage mountain, and connecting, 
as they were severally reached, the different ex¬ 
posures of the various beds. 


a 



4 


By thus ascertaining the position and eleva¬ 
tions of the beds as found in different parts of the 
formation, it was a matter for comparison and 
calculation, to fix the section of the coal-trough in 
each direction; and to compute its depth and 
other dimensions. Having completed these surveys 
and levellings for geological purposes, the other 
objects to be effected on the ground, were to as¬ 
certain the length and grade of a line of rail-road 
which might connect the lands of the company 
with the line of public improvements, by which 
they might be rendered available; and to measure 
the thickness of the several mineral deposits, tak¬ 
ing from each the proper samples for analysis. 
The field work being thus completed, it became 
necessary to arrange all the data thus obtained, to 
plot and reduce the maps, profiles, and sections ; 
and to go through an analysis of coals, iron ores, 
and limestones, found in the various exposures of 
the beds. 

The lands of your company lie in the north-east¬ 
erly part of the coal-trough, which is situated 
partly in the state of Pennsylvania, and partly in 
Maryland and Virginia. Those lands are chiefly 
situated on a ridge of considerable elevation, 
which divides the north fork of Jenning’s run, from 
the south-westerly heads of Gladden’s run. This 
ridge may be traced from Beale’s Gap, in the Little 
Allegheny mountain, to Reiber’s Gap, on the Sav¬ 
age mountain; and the distance from the Penn- 


sylvania and Maryland line is in no part of the 
tract more than two and a half miles. 

The situation of these lands is one of the most 
favourable in Pennsylvania for supplying with bit¬ 
uminous coal the great Atlantic market. After 
many years spent in exploration, surveys and lev¬ 
ellings, to ascertain the most favourable route for 
a connection between the Potomac and the Ohio, 
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-road Company have 
fixed upon the course of Will’s creek, as the location 
of their road. This line of communication there¬ 
fore passes within little more than two miles of the 
north-easterly extremity of the company’s land; 
and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company 
have determined on locating a basin for that work 
at the mouth of Jenning’s run, about five and a 
half miles by the course of the latter stream from 
the coal openings on the property of your com¬ 
pany, and only three miles by the course of Will’s 
creek, above the town of Cumberland. The loca¬ 
tions to which I have just referred will be found to 
render the north-eastern extremity of the South¬ 
ampton coal field more accessible than any other 
portion of this rich and valuable basin. While 
such is the situation of these lands with reference 
to lines of the public works—and while the pro¬ 
ducts of the mines may find through the channel 
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a transporta¬ 
tion not exceeding 190 miles, with a descent 
of 690 feet, to reach tide-water, the lands them- 


6 


selves are so situated as to render the prosecution 
of mining operations far less expensive than in 
many other situations. Many of the mineral beds 
can be approached and worked without vertical 
shafts, or slopes requiring stationary power for 
extracting the materials. Six workable beds of the 
coal are wholly above water-level; and portions of 
those which, at the centre of the basin, lie beneath 
that level, rise at their out crops to a high elevation 
on the flanks of the two mountains which consti¬ 
tute the boundaries of the basin. 

This circumstance of working by horizontal 
drifts instead of vertical shafts, and that of finding 
a conveyance to market, without the necessity of 
constructing long lines of private rail-road, are 
advantages possessed by few of the bituminous 
coal districts, of which the products will seek 
the Atlantic market. By a reference to sub¬ 
sequent parts of this report, it will be found that 
the distance over which a company rail-road, 
to connect the coal of this basin with the canal as 
above mentioned, must be made, is not above 
five and four-fifth miles; and that the first coal 
beds reached on this route, are not more than 
three and a half miles from the canal basin at the 
mouth of Jenning’s run, and at an elevation of 
290 feet above that point. These latter beds, 
which have formerly been worked to a limited ex¬ 
tent, are therefore but 980 feet above tide, with a 
continuous descent. The advantage which a rail- 


7 


road constructed from the mouth of Jenning’s run 
to the coal mines of the company would enjoy, 
would not be limited by the accommodation it 
would afford to their own operations, but it would 
profitably accommodate the trade descending 
along the south fork of Jenning’s run, from the 
neighbourhood of Frostburg. This source of 
revenue might be safely calculated on, as the 
rich mineral beds of the company are known to 
extend in that direction ; and their value, both for 
the supply of coal, and for the manufacture of iron, 
has been already demonstrated. 

To the above general remarks I may add, that 
the richness of this coal formation in argillaceous 
carbonates of iron and in limestone, is such, as to 
warrant the establishment and prosecution of iron 
works, on the most extensive scale which the 
necessities of the country shall require. When 
this, and similar coal districts of our country, come 
to be duly appreciated, there will, I conceive, be 
a total cessation of the ruinous practice of con¬ 
tracting debts abroad for supplying this important 
article of consumption—an article, which there 
appears to be as little need of bringing from 
abroad into the United States, as there is of im¬ 
porting the raw cotton of India, the timber of 
Norway, the wheat of Poland, or the bricks of 
Holland. 


8 


GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF TIIE COUNTRY. 

The character of the formation in which the 
coal of Southampton exists, is in all its leading 
features entirely similar to that found in other bitu¬ 
minous coal regions, both of the old and new world. 
It is a secondary formation, reposing in a trough 
or canoe-shaped cavity, between two upheaved 
ridges which run nearly parallel to each other in a 
direction from north-east to south-west; and conse¬ 
quently the strata which are inclined towards a cen¬ 
tral north-east and south-east line dip from one of 
these ridges, (the Savage mountain,) towards the 
south-east, and from the other, (the Little Allegheny 
mountain,) they dip towards the north-west. In the 
central line, the position of the strata becomes, of 
course, for a short distance, nearly horizontal; 
and as we recede from this line they are seen to 
be more and more highly inclined to each other. 

The evidences of the true character of the two 
ridges, that of up-curved portions of the stratifi¬ 
cation, were abundantly presented to view at the 
several gaps in these ridges, which I was enabled 
to visit; and on both sides of the coal field I 
traced the rock formation to points where it 
again became inclined from the central line of 
the coal-trough in question. 

Thus, in passing through the gap in the Little 
Allegheny mountain, which affords a passage to 


9 


the waters of Gladden’s run, I was enabled to 
observe at Compt’s old mill-dam, an inclination S. 
75 degrees, E. 81 degrees; while at Mattinger’s 
shop higher up the stream, the inclination is 
N. 45 W. 85 degrees. Between this point and 
Emerick’s mill, we find successively dips in the 
same direction, 43 and 36 degrees. At Emerick’s 
mill, where the conglomerate rock is found in 
place, and a little above which, a bed of coal is 
opened, the inclination is still north-west, but the 
angle has diminished to 22 degrees. At Daniel 
Hoyman’s, on the road which ascends the south 
branch of Gladden’s run, the slate rock has a dip 
N. 38 W. of 9 degrees; and at Baker’s place, 
N. 28 W. 8 degrees. At Gaumer’s big vein it is 
N. 15 W. 5°. These last three observations 
appear to favour the supposition that the ridge 
between the waters of Gladden’s and Jenning’s 
runs, is in fact saddle-shaped, dipping into the val¬ 
leys of the streams, as well as towards the centre 
of the trough, as already mentioned. 

At the mouth of Jenning’s run, the rocks were 
observed to dip N. 45° W. 80°. 

At a crossing of Jenning’s run, below the junc¬ 
tion of the north and south forks, the dip was 
found to be N. 51° W. 65°. On the red shale 
rock some distance below the conglomerate, N. 
40J W. 17°; from this point to Uhl’s mill, the 
inclination of the strata cut through by the stream 
appears to diminish gradually, until at the latter 

9 




10 


point, it is N. 45 W. 4i degrees. Some additional 
facts were observed with respect to the inclina¬ 
tion of the rocks, on the flank of the Little Alle¬ 
gheny, particularly north of Beale’s Gap, where 
the conglomerate standing high above the other 
members of the coal series, probably on account 
of its greater degree of durability, has an inclina¬ 
tion N. 45 W. 60°. At Beale’s Gap also, the 
sandstone above the conglomerate dips N. 50 W. 
33°; but having passed from this point over the 
edges of several of the lower beds of coal and 
their interposed rocks, towards the synclinal axis 
or bottom of the trough, we perceive the forma¬ 
tion to be gradually becoming more and more 
nearly horizontal, until we reach the rounded hill 
near the house of Henry Hoyman, which seems 
to repose in the centre of the trough, and to con¬ 
tain some higher members of the original forma¬ 
tion than are met with in any other part of the 
trough over which my lines of survey extended. 
From the base of this central bluff we advance 
towards the north-west, up the flank of the Sav¬ 
age mountain, over strata, at first only moderately 
inclined, and find, as we proceed, still further evi¬ 
dences of the saddle-shaped figure assumed by the 
strata, constituting the ridge. 

Thus we have on the south-westerly side of the 
ridge at Hardin’s old and new openings, a dip 
S. 8 W. 6°, instead of S. 45.° E., as we might 
expect from the general bearing of the mountain 


11 


ranges and of the main axis of the coal-trough. 
On the other hand, above Daniel Lepley’s, on the 
Gladden’s run side of the ridge, the inclination is 
S. 60 E. 24°—then S. 55° E. 15°—and not far 
below, on the Jenning’s-run side of the slope, S. 
30 E. 15°. S. 35 E. 17°. All these observations are 
within a few rods of each other, and indicate 
that the waters of the two runs, have, in excavat¬ 
ing their channels, more than 1000 feet deep into 
the formation, been directed by other than acci¬ 
dental circumstances, in reference to the courses 
which they have respectively traced. Instead of 
finding the basset edges or out-crops of the several 
beds in a straight line along the flanks of the 
two mountains, we ought, if the results of the fore¬ 
going observations be properly estimated, to have 
scolloping or waving lines of crop, in situations 
where their upper lines are observed. 

Following the general course of the inclination, 
we notice on the flank of the Savage mountain, 
on the old Somerset road, below its junction with 
the turnpike, the dip S. 45 E. 20°. On the con¬ 
glomerate rock, in place near Reiber’s gap, S. 38° 
E. 23°. At Reiber’s new ore bed, S. 45 E. 31°; 
and on the ridge of the Savage mountain, was 
observed a dip of the grey sand-stone, composing 
it, S. 45 E. 40°. On passing further to the north-west¬ 
ward, and crossing Savage run, Laurel run, the Scaf¬ 
fold Camp fork, and arriving at the head waters of 
the Flaugherty’s creek, we cross over a line of anti- 


12 


clinal elevation, and find at length a dip N. 48 
W. 18 degrees. This comes in fact to the 
westerly slope of the Allegheny mountain. 

We thus discover, that the coal-trough under 
consideration, reposes in one of the downward 
flexures or wrinkles of the stratification, so com¬ 
mon in Middle Pennsylvania, and which, combined 
with the extensive denudation of certain parts of 
the elevated strata, render the geological interpre¬ 
tation of the present surfaces somewhat more 
intricate than they would have been, if no such 
corrugations had taken place. 

That side of the trough which reposes on the 
flank of the Savage mountain, and which, conse¬ 
quently declines towards the south-east, is found, 
according to the foregoing observations, to have a 
more rapid inclination than that which rests on 
the slope of the Little Allegheny. In other parts 
of this coal-trough, as we learn from Professor 
Ducatel’s report on the geology of Maryland, the 
reverse appears to hold. Some few observations 
which were recorded, appear to favour the suppo¬ 
sition, that there is on the whole, a slight south¬ 
western inclination of the whole formation in this 
part of the Savage mountain coal field ; and that 
not many miles to the north-eastward, we should 
encounter the outcropping of the strata composing 
the ends of the trough. 

The angles of inclination above-cited, togeth¬ 
er with the breadth of the deposit of coal mea- 


Vs 


©ares, prove that it must possess no inconsiderable 
depth at the centre; and though the lowest strata 
of coal and iron-ore, discovered in ascending Jen- 
ning’s run, soon after passing the thick bed of con¬ 
glomerate rock, 31 miles above its mouth, together 
with several others of the mineral beds, between that 
point and the village of Wellersberg, are no more 
seen, on account of their dipping below the level of 
the creek; yet as we have many data to determine 
the inclination of the measures, the depth to which 
the lower beds must descend in the centre , before 
they again rise to the opposite side of the trough, is 
determined within sufficiently circumscribed limits. 
The number of points at which the eight feet vein 
of coal, seen near Hoyman’s place, is opened, and 
the readiness with which it is distinguished from 
other beds, above and below it, afforded an oppor¬ 
tunity of determining the position of the strata gen¬ 
erally ; especially on the south-eastern side of the 
trough; and the only assumption necessary, in order 
to locate properly the inferior beds, is, that the thick¬ 
ness of the several strata is constant, which, though 
perhaps not rigorously, is probably at least, so near¬ 
ly true, as to be assumed without subjecting us to 
material error. It would be highly satisfactory to 
witness a direct development of all the members of 
the series above water-level in this part of the basin, 
by means of trenches opened upon the steep sides of 
the slope, exposing the edges of the strata. In 
the absence of this method of research, I have 


14 


sought to connect, in as unexceptionable a manner 
as possible, the points where openings do exist ; 
and thus to construct a section which may serve 
as a general guide, subject to such corrections as 
future and more minute examinations shall render 
necessary. 

An inspection of the accompanying section will 
show that the lower bed of coal, opened near the 
point where the south fork of Jenning’s run, (which 
comes from near Frostburg,) joins the north fork, 
must, in the centre of the basin, be found even below 
the level of the town of Cumberland, and that it 
must be at least 1300 feet below the top of the 
central hill, still resting in the middle of the trough, 
near Hoyman’s house. The old coal openings at 
the forks, are only three hundred feet above the 
mouth of Jeiming’s run ; and as the latter point is 
known to be 684 feet above tide, we have at this 
point, a coal bed 984 feet above tide-water, capa¬ 
ble of being mined by horizontal drifts, and pre¬ 
senting a breast of at least 4000 feet, on the slope 
of the Little Allegheny mountain, before it would 
reach the out crop, where it was observed near 
Beale’s Gap. 


MINERALS. 

The mineral substances most abundantly distri¬ 
buted over the lands which I examined, are coal, 
iron-ore and limestone, with some fire clay. 



15 


By reference to the accompanying section, con¬ 
structed in general from an actual, examination of 
the position of each bed, it will be observed, that 
about twelve different strata of coal have already 
been ascertained to exist; and that of these, not 
less than six or seven are susceptible of profitable 
working, and have actually been wrought on some 
limited scale, to supply the demands, either of the 
immediate neighbourhood, or of the public armory 
at Harper’s Ferry. It is said to be not less than 
forty years since some of the lower beds began to be 
explored for these purposes; but from the limited 
demand for coal then existing, and the total absence 
of skill in mining among the inhabitants, together 
with the uncertain and hazardous mode of transpor¬ 
tation by boats and arkso n the Potomac in time of 
floods, very little coal was ever taken out; and the 
various short drifts once opened, are now closed 
up, or so dilapidated as to be scarcely capable of 
examination. Several of these lower beds are 
from two to four feet in thickness. From the 
best information which I could collect, relative 
to the thickness of these, and from my own ob¬ 
servations in the higher beds of the formation, 
I am led to the belief, that the total amount 
of workable coal in the formation, does not fall 
short of thirty feet. 

Coal from four of the beds has been more par¬ 
ticularly examined, but of all the portions formerly 
worked, good coal has been extracted, and its 


16 


general character among those who have used it, 
is a sufficient guarantee for the disposal of any 
quantity which could be brought to market on the 
sea-board. 


ANALYSIS OF COALS. 

No. 1. The first sample analyzed was from the 
eight feet bed, opened not far from H. Hoy man’s 
place, at the centre of the trough, and near the 
highest part of the dividing ridge, between the 
waters of Jenning’s and those of Gladden’s run. 
This coal has a rather open structure, and jet 
black colour, or occasional iridescent tints, with 
portions of alternate bright and dull black surface. 
The surfaces of deposition are well marked, and the 
two sets of slines or cleats, are, in the sample be¬ 
fore me, at angles of about 105° and 75°, with 
each other, giving a rhombic structure in that direc¬ 
tion. 


The specific gravity of this coal is 1.3432 


Heated to 220° Fah. it loses 

1.2 

per ct. 

When fully coked, it yields of water 


and other condensible matter, 

4.0 

« 

And of uncondenscible gas, 

16.8 

u 

It contains of earthy matter, 

8.1 

(6 

And of solid carbon, 

69.9 

u 


100.00 




17 


The ashes are dense, of a reddish gray tint, 
and obviously contain a considerable propor¬ 
tion of oxide of iron, and probably a small per 
cent, of manganese; not enough, however, it is 
believed, to interfere, in the least, with the use of 
this coal for smelting iron. 

No. 2. This specimen of coal was taken from the 
new opening on Uhl’s upper vein, so called, some 
distance down the slope, below Hoy man’s open¬ 
ing, on the big vein above alluded to. This bed 
is 84.14 feet below the preceding. Its thick¬ 
ness, measured at an old drift at some distance 
from the point where this new opening was made, 
was found to be 4 feet 9 inches, including a ply of 
slate of variable thickness* from 9 to 12 inches. 
The new opening had not, at the time of my visit, 
been so effectually opened as to enable me to deter*- 
mine exactly its thickness, but it is, doubtless, equal 
to that observed in the other opening. 


The specific gravity of this coal is 1.3195 


Heated to 220° Fah. it lost, 

2.00 

per ct. 

And when fully coked it gave— 


in combined water and other 



condensible vapours, 

1.4 

u 

And of uncondensible gas, 

16.8 

u 

The earthy matter, bright buff or 



fawn-coloured ashes, is 

4.05 

ii 

Carbon, 

75.75 

u 


3 


100.00 




18 


The ashes are remarkably light, forming, in this 
respect, a singular contrast with those of No. 1. 

No. 3. This sample was taken from an opening 
on the land of D. Korns, adjoining those of the 
company, on the north-east side of the dividing 
ridge, between the waters of Jenning’s and Glad¬ 
den’s runs. The bed is 50.6 feet lower than the 
level of Beale’s Gap, while the bed, called Uhl’s 
upper vein, is opened on the other side of the ridge, 
at an elevation of 53.6 feet below the same gap. 
As far as exterior indications go, the identity of 
these two beds, appears to be established. 

The coal from Korns’s opening is of a cubical 
structure, colour deep black, lustre not remarkable. 

Its specific gravity is 1.386 
It loses by heating to 300° 1.4 per ct. 

The volatile matter lost in coking is 

in addition, 18.7 “ 

The earthy matter is, 11.44 “ 

Carbon, 68.46 “ 


100.00 

In coking, this coal swells but little, and the 
coke is dense, dark gray, and without lustre. The 
ashes are dense, inclining in colour to the fawn, 
but rather deeper, and might, perhaps, be described 
as between a fawn and a flesh colour. 

No. 4. This sample was taken from an opening 



19 


recently made on the land of Schaeffer, adjoining 
the Weller tract of the company. The level of 
this opening is 485 feet below Beale’s Gap, about 
34 feet lower than the opening in Weller’s field, 
and 63 feet higher than the opening on the “ Meet¬ 
ing-house vein,” from which it is distant one fourth 
of a mile, in a north-westerly direction. This 
opening appears to be a little to the north-west of 
the central line or synclinal axis of the trough, 
but cannot be far advanced towards the Savage 
mountain side of the basin. The coal is of good 
appearance, both in colour and texture. Its sur¬ 
face, shining, or covered with a slight film of 

oxide of iron. 

Its specific gravity is 1.370 
At 300° it loses of moisture 1.3 per ct. 

By coking, it loses in addition, of 

bitumen, 17.5 “ 

The quantity of earthy matter is, 10.5 “ 

And the unvolatilizable carbon, 70.7 “ 

100.00 

The ashes are dense, and of a chocolate brown 
colour, indicating a considerable quantity of me¬ 
tallic oxide. The coke is bulky, but of excellent 
appearance, having a steel gray lustrous exterior, 
but is porous internally. 

No. 5. This coal is from Hoy man’s eight feet 
bed, but a different ply from the sample given in 



No. 1. The colour is nearly jet black, shining, 
structure rhomboidal, foleated, and occasionally 
exhibiting local contortions of the grain. The 
surfaces of superposition are strongly marked; 
and the main slines, or cleavages, are inclined to 
those surfaces, in an angle of about 30 and 150 
degrees. 

Its specific gravity is 1.363 
At 300° it parts with moisture to 

the amount of 1.1 per ct. 

And in coking loses in addition, of 

volatile matter, 17.2 “ 

It contains of earthy matter, 10.2 “ 

And of unvolatilizable carbon, 71.5 “ 

100.00 

The ashes are of nearly as light a colour as 
those from hickory wood, but with a slight reddish 
tinge, are bulky, and appear to contain but little 
metallic oxide. 

The coke is not voluminous, and has a steel¬ 
like colour and brightness. No sulphur was de¬ 
tected in the course of this analysis, though traces 
of sulphuret of iron do occur in some plies of this 
bed of coal. 

No 6. This coal is from Hoy man’s six-feet bed. 
The structure is rhomboidal, the colour of the sur¬ 
faces of superposition, when developed, is a dead 
black, on the edges of the plies, shining and deep 



black. The roof of the drift is 110 feet below the 
level of Beale’s Gap. 

The specific gravity of the coal is 1.362 
At 300° it loses of moisture, 1.30 per ct. 

By coking, it parts with an addi¬ 
tional quantity of volatile mat¬ 
ter equal to 18.5 “ 

It contains of earthy matter 11.66 “ 

And of unvolatilizable carbon, 68.54 “ 

100.00 

The coke is of moderate density; the coal 
undergoes an enlargement in the process of coking, 
of 100 per cent. The ashes are moderately dense 
and coherent, of a reddish gray colour. Sulphur 
was distinctly perceptible in the analysis of this 
coal. 

No. 7. This sample was taken from Uhl’s seven 
feet vein, which, at the point of opening, is 130 
feet below the level of Beale’s Gap. The coal at 
this opening was observed to be much discoloured 
by oxide of iron, and as the specimen analyzed 
was from a part which had been exposed to the 
air, it had much of the oxide diffused over the sur¬ 
face, which would otherwise, probably, have exhib¬ 
ited the blueish black colour of the more solid 
parts of the bed. 



22 


The specific gravity of this coal is 1.388 


It lost at 300° 2.7 

And in addition, at a white heat 16.8 
It contains of earthy matter 12.06 

And of unvolatilizable carbon 68.44 


per ct. 

u 

u 

u 


100.00 


The ashes are bulky, and of a purplish red 
colour. The process of coking enlarges the bulk 
of the coal, in some cases to three times its ori¬ 
ginal amount, its exterior being covered with a red 
metallic oxide. This coal, like the preceding, 
gave, near the conclusion of the coking process, 
distinct evidence of sulphurous acid, resulting, no 
doubt, from the decomposition of the pyritous 
matter contained in it. 

It will be observed that this coal agrees pretty 
nearly in character with No. 6, with which it may 
indeed be found to correspond in geological posi¬ 
tion. 


No. 8, is a specimen from Weller’s four feet 
vein ; and the opening from which it was taken is 
451 feet below the level of Beale’s Gap, or 320 
feet below that of the last mentioned bed. Be¬ 
tween these two levels no beds are known to have 
been worked ; though at least two separate beds 
have been traced; one at 196, and the other, of 
274 feet below the level of Beale’s Gap. 

The coal from Weller’s opening is of a deep 






23 


black colour, columnar structure, brilliant in its 
cross fracture, and of a dull black in the natural 
horizontal partings, unless where an efflorescense 
of sulphate of iron from decomposed pyrites, has 
given a white film to these surfaces. 

This coal has a specific gravity of 1.321 
It loses at 300° 1.4 per ct. 

And by coking at a white heat, loses 

in addition 18.5 “ 

It contains of earthy matter and 

oxides 11.0 “ 

And of carbon not volatilized by 

heat alone 69.1 “ 

100.00 

The ashes are of a blackish gray colour, with a 
faint trace of redness observable. The coke is 
rather more than double the bulk of the coal, is of 
a steel colour, and rather tender and friable in its 
consistency. Sulphurous acid is disengaged during 
the process; and a small quantity of peroxide of 
iron shows itself, resulting from the decomposition 
of the sulphate, or of the sulphuret of that metal. 

The horizontal distance from this coal opening 
to that below the church is 1000 feet, and the 
descent in that distance is 96 feet; so that an 
inclined plane, with a slope of about one in ten, 
would convey this coal to a rail-road terminating 
near the Church land opening. It is probable that 
a location may be selected for such a plane, of 





24 


which the length would be one or two hundred feet 
less than that above stated. 


No. 9. This coal is from the “Church land 
vein,” so called, and is found at 548 feet below 
the level of Beale’s Gap, and 557 feet above the 
mouth of Jenning’s run. The same bed is open 
on the lands of the company, on the south side 
of the run, at a short distance lower down the 
stream. 

This coal is of a columnar structure, has a deep 
black colour; the horizontal plies varying some¬ 
what in brilliancy from each other. The surfaces 
of superposition are as in the preceding specimen, 
covered with effloresced sulphate of iron. 

The specific gravity is 1.480. 

per ct. 

a 
u 
a 


Loss of moisture at 300° 

1.2 

And of bitumen &c. by coking, 

17.5 

The amount of earthy matter is 

12.74 

That of the carbon 

68.56 

.( > . , 

100.00 


The ashes are dense, and of a reddish gray 
colour. The coke is about double the bulk of the 
coal from which it is obtained, has an iron gray 
or reddish exterior, and cakes sufficiently to render 
it compact. 


No. 10. This is from Weller and Hardin’s 
vein, opened on the George Weller tract, 1900 



25 


feet in a north-west direction from the Church 
land vein, near the point where a tributary comes 
into the north fork of Jenning’s run. It is under¬ 
laid by a bed of limestone, several feet in thick¬ 
ness, over which that tributary descends for a con¬ 
siderable distance. The coal is of a columnar 
structure, dull black or iridescent colour, is rather 
tender and friable in texture, and has a specific 
gravity of 1.491. 

Heated to 300° it loses 1.4 per ct. 

Coked at a bright red heat it loses, 

in addition 16.2 44 

It contains of earthy impurities 16.04 44 

And of carbon 66.36 44 

100.00 

The ashes are dense and of a colour nearly 
flesh red. The coke exceeds the coal from which 
it is made, by about two-thirds of its original bulk. 
It has little tendency to cake, and becomes covered 
on the exterior with a coat of peroxide of iron, from 
the sulphate decomposed in the coking process. 
The quantity of earthy matter in this specimen is 
the greatest of all the samples tried, and the specific 
gravity, as will be perceived, is also the greatest; 
and indeed, if we arrange all the coals above 
reported, in the order of their specific gravities, it 
will be seen that the quantity of earthy matter in 
each follows very nearly the same order. 

4 



26 


The following table exhibits the coals arranged 
in the order above suggested. 


Coals arranged in the order of their specific gravities, with the proximate 

constituents of each. 


No. 

Locality. 

Sp. Gr 

Wat. expell. 
ed at 300°. 

Bitu¬ 

men. 

Ashes. 

Car¬ 

bon. 

Pro.carb 
to 1 of 
bitumen. 

2 

Hoyman’s New 
opening. 

1.3195 

2.0 

18.2 

4.05 

75-75 

4.162 

8 

Weller’s four feet 
vein. 

1.321 

1.4 

18.5 

11.00 

69.10 

3.735 

1 

Hoyman’s Old 
bed. 

1.3432 

1.2 

20.6 

8.10 

69.90 

3.393 

6 

Hoyman’s 6 feet 
bed. 

1.362 

1.3 

18.5 

11.66 

68.54 

3.705 

5 

Hoyman’s 8 feet 
bed. 

1.363 

1.1 

17.2 

10.20 

71.50 

4.157 

4 

Schaeffer’s new 
opening. 

1.370 

1.3 

17.5 

10.50 

70.70 

4.040 

3 

D. Korns’s old 
opening. 

1.386 

1.4 

18.7 

11.44 

68.46 

3.661 

7 

Uhl’s seven-feet 
vein. 

1.388 

2.7 

16.8 

12.06 

68.44 

4.073 

9 

Meeting-house 

vein. 

1.480 

1.2 

17.5 

12.79 

68.56 

3.918 

10 

Weller and Har¬ 
din’s. 

1.491 

1.4 

16.2 

16.04 

66.36 

4.096 

Mean results. 

1.382 

1.5 ) 17.97 

10.68 | 69.73 

3.894 


Omitting the minor fractional divisions, it may be 
stated that the coal of this formation, contains in 
100 parts, by weight, one and a half parts of 
hygrometric moisture, eighteen of bitumen, ten and 






































































































27 


a half earthy matter, and seventy of carbon. It 
may also be stated in general terms, that the vola¬ 
tile combustible matter bears to the carbon, the 
proportion of one to four. 

The mean specific gravity of the coal being 
1.382, the weight of one cubic yard will be 2747 
pounds; and each acre of land on which the 
eight feet bed is found, will accordingly, contain 
in that bed, 15,800 tons. The six feet bed will 
contain nearly 11,800 tons per acre. 


IRON ORES. 

The variety of iron ores found on the property 
of the company, their abundance and richness, 
warrant the highest expectations, as to the value 
of this district, for iron manufactures. They all 
belong, in their original condition, to the class of 
argillaceous carbonates ; and though, when observed 
on or near the surface, they have often been changed 
to brown hydrates, yet the former is the character 
under which they must be viewed, when contem¬ 
plating their application to practical purposes on 
a large scale. The situations of the several beds 
of iron ore are various; some being found near the 
highest part of the formation, as exemplified in the 
hill north of Henry Heiman’s house, and only sixty 
feet in vertical distance below its summit; others 
lie below all the beds of coal, and are hitherto 



28 


only traced along the outer edges of the trough, 
near the summits of the Savage and Little Alle¬ 
gheny mountains. 

The first iron ore which we encounter in ap¬ 
proaching the Savage mountain coal-trough from 
the south-east, is the fossiliferous ore belonging 
several hundred feet below the lowest coal. It 
appears to be analogous to that which is found 
in various situations from the North and West 
Branches of the Susquehanna, to the southern bor¬ 
ders of the state, near which, I observed it in 
ascending Gladden’s run. It is nowhere in this 
vicinity explored, that I am aware of, for eco¬ 
nomical purposes. I had but few opportunities 
of seeing the ore itself, but the accompanying 
rocks are so w r ell marked that there is no doubt 
in my mind that the samples which fell under my 
notice, are truly portions of the same, or a similar 
formation. 

The next ore in the order of the geological 
strata, appears to be that which lies almost imme¬ 
diately beneath the conglomerate rock, constitut¬ 
ing the general boundary of the coal measures. 
This ore is exposed near the north branch of Jen- 
ning’s run, where it passes through Reiber’s Gap, 
and direetly in sight of the Somerset turnpike, 
where the latter crosses the Savage mountain. In 
the centre of the basin this member of the series 
must be many hundred feet below the lowest de¬ 
pression of the surface. I am not aware that it 


29 


has yet been explored on the Little Allegheny 
mountain, though I see no reason to doubt that its 
equivalent at least, will be there found. Reiber 
has explored two or three bands of ore, each from 
five to six inches thick, and within six or eight 
feet of each other. The inclination of the strata 
here, is 20° towards S. 45° E., and consequently, 
the strike of the measures conforms to what has 
been above assigned as the general direction of 
the trough. This ore has been designated in the 
series of analysis, as 

No. 1. It is very compact in structure, of a 
bluish grey colour, gives a splintery fracture, and 
sometimes developes in its surfaces of separation, 
the existence of vegetable fossils. 

Its specific gravity is 3.7644. 

At a temperature of 320° Fah. it 

loses 1. per ct. 

When strongly calcined, it loses in 


addition 

And yields of pig metal 
Earthy matter and oxygen 


28.4 

42.2 

28.4 


u 


100 . 


The iron obtained in this assay was grey, soft, 
and tough. The mining of this ore would proba¬ 
bly be found expensive, at least in the locality 
above described; but if discovered on the south¬ 
eastern side of the trough, the approach to it 



30 


would be more convenient, and the mining less 
expensive. 

No. 2. Next in the order of superposition, ap¬ 
pears to be the feet bed of iron ore, in bands 
and balls, as found near the top of Savage moun¬ 
tain. The sample analyzed was taken from near 
the bottom of the bed, out of a compact band of 
ore, 12 inches thick. The dip of this bed is, S. 50° 
E. 17°. 

This ore is a light blue impure carbonate, in¬ 
clining in some parts to reddish brown, owing, 
probably, to the formation of some peroxide, by 
exposure to the atmosphere. Its fracture is rough 
and splintery. 

Its specific gravity at 63° Fah. is 3.3957. 

Heated to 350° it loses 0.5 per ct. 

When calcined at a white heat, it 


loses in addition, 

28.0 “ 

It yields of pig iron, 

39.2 « 

And contains of earthy impurities, 

24.1 « 

And of oxygen, 

8.2 “ 


100 . 

The pig metal yielded by this ore is dark grey, 
soft, tough, and exhibits various dark crystalline 
facets. 

The cinder is brittle, opake, whitish, and 
abounds in cavities. 

No. 3. The next sample of ore analyzed was 



31 


from the same bed as the preceding, but was taken 
from the upper ply or band which is continuous, 
and about seven inches thick. The fracture of 
this ore is uneven or splintery; its colour is ashen 
grey, with brownish red spots near the exterior. 

Its specific gravity is 3.077. 

Heated to 320° it loses of moisture, 00.5 per ct. 
Calcined to whiteness for some time 


it parts with water and carbon- 


ic acid to the amount of 

20.6 

It yields of pig metal, 

32.8 

And gives of earthy matter, 

37. 

Of oxygen, 

9.1 


100.00 


The pig metal obtained from this ore is light 
grey, moderately hard, but tough. The ore will 
be fully reduced by a flux, consisting of 10 per 
cent, of its weight of limestone. The cinder is 
lightish green, and of uniform texture, indicating 
complete fusion among the earthy ingredients. 

No. 4. This was another sample of band ore 
taken from the mouth of a pit sunk on the bed 
above described, on the Savage mountain, and 
presumed to have come from the lower ply, the 
same as No. 2. 

Its fracture is uneven, colour reddish grey inter¬ 
nally and brown externally. 



32 


Its specific gravity is 3.3179. 


Heated to 320° it loses 

0.6 

per ct 

It loses in addition, by calcination 



at white heat, 

24.4 

u 

And yields of pig metal 

36.1 

u 

Earthy matter, 

33.8 


Volatile matter, 

5.1 

« 


100.00 

The pig metal of this sample was white and 
brittle. The cinder, yellowish brown, semi-trans¬ 
parent. 

No. 5. This specimen is from the new open¬ 
ing on the Weller tract. Its thickness was not 
accurately ascertained, as the pit was filled with 
water at the period of my visit. 

Its colour is dark grey, fracture moderately 
smooth, the decomposed exterior has a coat of 
ashey grey argillaceous matter. 

Its specific gravity is 3.2646. 

At 300° it loses in moisture, 0.5 per ct. 

At a white heat it sustains an addi¬ 
tional loss of 29.5 “ 

It yields of pig metal 32.3 “ 

“ of earthy matter, 31.1 “ 

“ of oxygen and other volatile 

matter, 6.4 “ 


99.8 




33 


The iron yielded in this analysis, was dark grey, 
soft, and granular; the cinder whitish, and not 
very smooth or compact. 

The elevation of the bed from which the above 
sample was taken, is about 475 feet below that of 
Beale’s Gap, and 527 below the level of the sum¬ 
mit of Hoyman’s hill, at the cross-roads. It 
therefore underlies nearly the whole extent of the 
company’s property, and is everywhere above the 
water-level of Jenning’s run. It appears to be 
about 20 feet above the level of the Ckurch-land 
vein of coal. 

No. 6. This specimen was from the coal open¬ 
ing on the Uhl tract, known as Uhl’s upper vein. 
It lies 44 feet below the level of Beale’s Gap, 
and consequently 421 feet above the last mention- 
tioned locality. 

The ore has a deep chocolate brown colour, 
yellow without; it is of a compact texture, but con¬ 
tains occasional cavities, filled with argillaceous 
matter. 

Its specific gravity is 3.4704. 

Heated to 320° it loses 4.3 per ct. 

At a white heat it loses in addi¬ 
tion, 11.5 “ 

It contains of iron 58.94 “ 

“ oxygen 25.26 “ 

100.00 


5 



34 


The ore is reduced at once to metallic malleable 
iron on the exterior, when in contact with charcoal, 
at the reducing temperature; and this outer shell 
contains magnetic oxide of iron, apparently nearly 
pure. 

It seems probable that it would be most advan¬ 
tageously worked with an argillaceous or calca¬ 
reous ore, containing a larger portion of earthy 
matter. 

This ore is a hydrated peroxide of iron, and is 
evidently the shell derived from the decomposition 
of carbonated argillaceous ball ore. 

No. 7. This was a sample of the ore from the 
farm of Cook, senior, found about one mile north 
or north-easterly from Hoyman’s place. It is com¬ 
pact in structure, grey or bluish grey colour, gives 


a somewhat conchoidal fracture, and has a 
gravity of 3.2764 at 52° Fah. 

specific 

When heated to 320° it loses 

And when calcined to whiteness, 

0.5 

per ct. 

loses in addition, 

30.5 

u 

It yields of pig metal, 

26.7 

u 

And contains of earthy matter, 

29.5 

u 

„ oxygen 

12.8 

ii 


100 . 

The reduction is performed with some difficulty, 
and it is probable that a portion of the oxide 
escaped decomposition, and passed off with the 



35 


cinder. The latter is of a blueish black colour. 
The thickness of the bed from which this ore was 
taken, has not hitherto been ascertained, but from 
my observations I conceive that more than one 
bed of ore, capable of being profitably worked, 
may be found on the northerly side of the ridge, 
between Jenning’s and Gladden’s runs, on the 
waters of which latter stream, the farm above 
mentioned is situated. The iron is dark grey 
and crystalline. 

No. 8. Above the eight feet bed of coal on the 
Hoyman place, and between it and the upper 
three feet bed, is a band of iron ore, at an eleva¬ 
tion 29 feet above the level of Beale’s Gap, 
and 75 feet above the level of the old drift near 
which stands the log-cabin occupied by Miller. 

This ore is found in a seam of variable thick¬ 
ness, from six inches to one foot, and the outcrop 
presents some well preserved samples of carbon¬ 
ate, not deeply affected by the atmosphere, but 
exhibiting merely a thin coating of hydrate. 

Its specific gravity at 52° is 3.4069. 


It loses at 320° 

0.5 

per ct, 

And at a white heat, 

28.4 

u 

It yields of iron, 

35.2 

u 

Of earthy matter, 

28.2 

u 

Of oxygen, 

7.7 

u 


100.00 



Tabular view of the iron ores above described. 


36 


The iron is a soft mottled grey, fine grained, 
and tolerably tough. The cinder is easily sepa¬ 
rated from the metal, and shows internally a dirty 
green colour. 




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37 


From the mean specific gravity of these ores, it 
appears that one cubic yard will weigh 5685 lbs. 
or a little more than two and a half tons. It 
also appears that the average yield in pig metal is 
a trifle short of 38 per cent. In practice it will 
probably be safe to calculate on taking three tons 
of these ores to make one ton of pig iron. 

In numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 of the assays, it 
is manifest that the iron was almost wholly in the 
state of a carbonate of the protoxide, since the 
mean amount of carbonic acid in those six sam¬ 
ples was 28.2 per cent., from which the calculated 
quantity of iron, supposing it to have been proto¬ 
carbonate, would be 35.69 per cent.; whereas, it 
was by experiment, 35.28. The slight deficiency 
is accounted for, in describing the results of the 
seventh analysis. 

It will be observed that only one of the speci¬ 
mens yielded a white and brittle metal. Indeed, 
out of many series of assays which I have made 
on the iron ores from various localities, I do not 
recollect to have met with a more satisfactory set 
of results, from any of the carbonated ores of our 
coal formations. 

The valuable bed of ore on the south-easterly 
slope of the Savage mountain, opened on the Wy¬ 
man tract, and exhibited in Nos. 2, 3, and 4, of 
the preceding table, will doubtless be found to 
extend the whole length of the Adams and Combs 
tracts, or for a distance of at least two and a 


38 


half miles, and with a breadth of more than half 
a mile. The openings on this ore are at present 
formed by shafts or pits, sunk to a depth of about 
25 or 30 feet. As all the strata here dip in a south¬ 
eastward^ direction, and in angles from 16 to 18 
degrees, it would not be difficult to approach this 
important ore bed, by tunnelling across the mea¬ 
sures, from a point at some distance below the 
present opening, and having reached the bed at 
the lowest convenient level, to run horizontal 
drifts along the bed, in N. E. and S. W. directions, 
from which breasts would be worked, upward, 
north-westwardly, to the outcrop, a distance, 
probably, of not less than 1000 feet. A tunnel, 
such as I have just indicated, would cross all the 
measures between its opening and the ore bed, 
and would consequently lay open several of those 
beds of coal which belong to the lower members 
of the series, not elsewhere approachable on the 
company’s property. 


LIMESTONES. 

The possession of an abundant supply of lime¬ 
stone, interstratified with the coal and iron ore 
beds of the Savage mountain coal-trough, is a cir¬ 
cumstance of great interest, in relation, particu¬ 
larly, to the manufacture of iron. These beds are 



39 


found at different elevations, and the materials 
they contain are of variable qualities. 

The highest bed of limestone is found on the 
land of D. Korn, on a tributary of Gladden’s 
run, and at a level of 206 feet lower than that of 
Beale’s Gap. It is particularly noticed at No. 1 
of the following table. The thickness of the bed 
is not well ascertained ; and it is not known that 
the same or an equivalent bed has yet been noticed 
on the south-easterly side of the ridge. It should 
be sought for near the level of the coal opening, 
made in the woods, by order of the president of 
the company, on the Hoyman tract, and at the 
left of the road in ascending. It yielded to analy¬ 
sis 38.5 per cent, of pure lime, equivalent to 68.22 
of carbonate of lime. 

The next limestone of consequence which has 
been disclosed in the descending order of stratifi¬ 
cation, is met with at an elevation 327 feet less 
than that of Beale’s Gap. It presents itself near 
the house of Daniel Uhl, where the outcrop is 
readily traced. 

The colour of this limestone is variable, a part 
of the bed being ferruginous, and a part nearly 
destitute of the oxide of iron, as indicated in the 
analysis presented at Nos. 2 and 3 of the table. 

The next lower bed is found on the Weller 
tract, 490 feet below the level of Beale’s Gap, and 
the quality of the stone is indicated at No. 4 of 


40 


the table. This stone appears likely to furnish 
a suitable flux for some of the ores of iron ; though 
at the temperature of smelting iron, it was not 

found to be fusible per se. 

The 5th and 6th samples of the table are from 

a bed on the north fork of Jenning’s run, which, 
in one place has a thickness of 15 feet; the ele¬ 
vation not precisely ascertained, but supposed to 
be geologically lower than any of the preceding. 
The bed is of variable qualities as indicated by the 
analysis, and also by the exterior characters of 
the stone. A part would probably be found highly 
useful for making lime ; and the whole may, when 
properly quarried, furnish a good building stone. 

Of the two remaining limestones, (Nos. 7 and 
8,) both are found on the south-eastern side of 
the trough; the one at an elevation of about 
160, and the other, 340 feet below Beale’s Gap. 
The latter of these beds is about nine feet in 
thickness, and the distance and inclination of the 
strata, lead to the supposition that it may be the 
same as is found in Weller’s field, (No. 4.) par¬ 
ticularly as it is known to be overlaid by a bed of 
coal, at about the same distance as in the last 
mentioned locality. The higher of these beds 
may possibly be the same as that opened on 
Korn’s land, the difference in elevation being 
attributable to the slope of the measures. 

The much greater proportion of insoluble earthy 


41 


matter, together with a large dose of metallic ox¬ 
ides renders this latter limestone unsuitable for 
the ordinary purposes to which lime is applied, 
and yet may not interfere essentially with its em¬ 
ployment as a flux, especially as it is found to 
yield to heat, even when treated by itself, at a 
temperature, certainly less than that which is 
ordinarily required for reducing the ores of iron. 

The limestone found at the “Big Spring,” in 
a bed nine feet in thickness, (not included in the 
following table,) on the Hoyman tract, has a speci¬ 
fic gravity of 2.709, yields excellent lime of a yel¬ 
lowish white colour, and by calcination loses 36.4 
per cent, of its weight. It shows in many respects 
a strong analogy with the limestone found on the 
Weller tract. After calcination, this limestone is 
completely soluble in acids. 


6 


Tabular View of the Series of Limestone examined, with their localities and characters. 


42 



a 

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colour, indicative of th 
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Locality. 

Korns’s op. on 
a br.of Gl. run, 
bel. a coal se’m 

Ferrug. lime¬ 
stone, near 
Uhl’s house. 

Near Uhl’s 
house, non-fer- 

rugin. portion. 

Weller’s field, 

N. E. of 
turnpike. 

N. Fork Jen- 
ning’s run, 15 
feet bed. 

1 

Hardin’s old 
coal-bed. 

Point Hill, in 
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S. of his lower 

coal opening. 

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on Hoyman’s 
tract. 

No 


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43 


Having described the various minerals which 
appeared most worthy of notice, in consideration 
of their immediate usefulness, I may add that a 
series of ancient coal-drifts is seen on the right of 
Jenning’s run, 648 feet below Beale’s Gap; and a 
bed of iron ore is found on the left bank of the 
same run, below the house of P. Wilhelm, seven 
hundred and thirteen feet below that level. These 
must underlie the whole of the company’s property, 
on the north-east side of Jenning’s run. Again, 
at 723 feet below our general level, is a coal 
opening, between the houses of Miller and Culp, 
on the right of the run, descending; and at a dis¬ 
tance of a few hundred yards above Bluebaugh’s 
house, at the junction of the two forks of Jenning’s 
run, are two lines of old coal workings, 300 yards 
apart—one on the left, and the other on the right 
of the run,—and both so near the same level, as to 
lead to the presumption, that they belong to one 
and the same bed. They are respectively 808 
and 810 feet below our line of departure, and 
appear to repose almost directly, on the conglome¬ 
rate bed of the coal formation. The direction 
from one set of these openings to the other, is 
almost exactly that which has been assumed as 
the general longitudinal direction of the coal- 
trough. 


44 


CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS. 

There are two methods by which the property 
of the company may be connected with the Ches¬ 
apeake and Ohio Canal, and with the Baltimore 
and Ohio Rail-road. The former of these works, 
will, it is understood, be shortly connected w r ith 
the mouth of Jenning’s run, at which point, a 
basin is to be constructed ; and the latter has been 
located, from Cumberland, along the valley of 
Will’s creek, around the north-eastern extremity 
of the Savage mountain coal-trough, and of course 
passes by the same point. 

By inspecting the map herewith submitted, it 
will be seen that the mouth of Jenning’s run is but 
two and one seventh miles, in horizontal distance, 
from Beale’s Gap, the commencement of my line 
of survey across the trough; and the profile and 
section, also accompanying this report, will show 
that the said gap is 1117.4 feet above the water- 
level at the mouth of that run. Deducting 17.4 
feet for the elevation at which a rail-road might 
terminate, above water-level in the basin, we 
should have 1100 feet as the height to be over¬ 
come—or rather of descent to be effected—in the 
distance above mentioned. 

Nearly the whole of this distance might be 
traversed on self-acting inclined planes; and 
would, consequently, enable the company to take 
advantage of the natural force of gravitation, for 


45 


transporting all their materials thus far on their 
way to a market. 

In running from Beale’s Gap to the mouth of 
Jenning’s run, the line of planes would he wholly 
within the state of Maryland; but in reaching 
Will’s creek, within the borders of Pennsylvania , 
the direct horizontal distance would be only 1 1 
miles; but the distance above the mouth of the 
run, where the state line crosses Will’s creek, 
is about 21 miles:—so that on the whole the most 
advantageous route to be pursued in locating 
planes, would probably be that which lies on the 
Maryland side of the line. 

I have spoken of one mode of approach to the 
coal field. By an examination of the accompanying 
geological sections, it will be observed that the level 
attained by planes such as have been contemplated, 
is considerably lower than that of many parts of 
the formation in the cross ridge, between the 
waters of Jenning’s and those of Gladden’s run. 
But a large portion of the formation would still lie 
many hundred feet below the level in question, 
and would consequently be unapproached by the 
method above alluded to. 

The most direct course to reach the whole of the 
series of measures, including iron ores, coals and 
limestones, would doubtless be a tunnel through 
the Little Allegheny mountain, striking the lower 
bed of coal, a little above the level of the mouth 
of Jenning’s run. This method of approach, 


46 


though, perhaps, too bold and expensive an un¬ 
dertaking for this country and for the present 
century, would be far less formidable than many 
works executed for similar purposes, in other coun¬ 
tries. It would, either by the direct, or by lateral 
cuttings, certainly reveal every portion of the 
strata, and would give advantages to the property 
on which it should be constructed, which are believed 
not to be enjoyed on any natural channel by which 
the minerals of this coal-trough can be reached. 
But the want of surplus capital in this country 
may, perhaps, operate for a long time yet to come, 
in compelling us to resort to cheaper expedients 
for temporary purposes. The natural channels, 
formed by the water-courses, must therefore be 
resorted to, in which to locate rail-roads, for 
approaching, at least a part, of the minerals of 
our coal-fields. In examining the two streams 
which alone are available for these purposes to 
the Allegheny Coal Company, namely, the Jen- 
ning’s and the Gladden’s runs, I have preferred 
the former, both on account of its affording the 
more direct and easy approach, and also, because, 
if a rail-road be constructed along the Jenning’s 
run, to the forks, and thence up its north branch to 
the lands of the company, the lower section of 3 } 
miles, or more than half of the whole distance, 
would be equally useful for any parties who should 
be engaged in transporting minerals from the south 


47 


fork of the run, which has its sources near Frost- 
burg. 


RAIL-ROAD. 

With the above view of the advantage of an 
approach through the valley of Jenning’s run, I caus¬ 
ed a survey and levelling to be made from the lands 
of the company near Wellersburg, to the mouth 
of that stream, and found the distance to be 5.8 
miles, and the total descent from the level of the 
Church land vein, so called, to that of the mouth 
of the run, 560 feet. The whole is divided into 
sections on the accompanying profile, from which 
the distances and grade per mile for each section 
may readily be perceived. It is evident that no 
power except that of gravitation will be required 
by the descending loaded trains on any part of 
the road, and the service of engines will only be 
needed to draw back the empty cars. It will be 
perceived, on inspecting the section that the Church 
land vein, with four or five other workable beds 
of coal, and with much iron ore and limestone, is 
wholly above the level of the terminus proposed 
for the road. No actual location of the rail-road 
was of course made. All the surveys were intend¬ 
ed to be preliminary to more minute investigations 
hereafter. No curve of a less radius than 1000 
feet would probably be required. 



48 


COST OF TRANSPORTATION TO MARKET. 

Admitting that twenty-eight bushels of the coal 
found on the company’s lands make one ton, we 
shall be able to compute the expense of it at tide¬ 
water, by assuming that the actual cost of mining 
and delivering on the rail-road, is 70 cents per 
ton, a very large estimate, sufficient to cover the 
expense of opening, propping, &c., this will be, 
per bushel, - 2.5 cts. 

Transportation on the company’s rail-road, 

5J miles, to the mouth of Jenning’s run, 
at 3f cents per ton per mile, say £ cent 
per bushel for the whole distance, .75 

Wastage and incidental expenses, .25 

Transportation in canal-boats from the 
mouth of Jenning’s run to tide, 189 
miles, at l£ cents per ton per mile, (the 
expense on the Pennsylvania canals,) 10.1 

Makes the whole expense of the coal at tide, 13.6 
cts. per bushel=^ree dollars and eighty- 
one cents per ton . 

The above computations are founded on busi¬ 
ness transactions in other coal regions, and on the 
known rates of toll and transport on canals and 
rail-roads, which have yielded ample profits to 
the proprietors. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 
has locks 100 feet long and 15 wide, which, as the 
canal has a depth of 6 feet, will, doubtless, take 



49 


boats of at least 100 tons burthen. By a reference 
to some citations in the Appendix to this report, it 
will be seen that others have estimated the cost of 
coal taken at points more remote from Cumberland 
than are the mines of the Allegheny Coal Company, 
at somewhat less than I have given it above, but in 
order to be within limits entirely safe, I have chosen 
to place the expense fully up to the known practical 
limits, or even to set some of the items a little 
above what may be done elsewhere, in order to 
meet any contingencies which might occur in 
commencing a new branch of trade in a new local¬ 
ity. 

For the last two or three years, bituminous coal 
has been sold in most of our Atlantic cities, at 
from seven to eight dollars per ton.—Suppose this 
to be reduced to six dollars, when the American 
bituminous coals come into market, this will still 
leave $2 19 per ton to pay freight coastwise, and 
yield the profits of the company:—and supposing 
present prices to be sustained, there would be left 
$3 19, applicable to the same objects. Admitting 
that the freight from Georgetown to Baltimore, 
Philadelphia, New York and Boston, should, on 
an average, be $1 50 per ton, there would, at the 
low rate at which I have stated the probable price 
of coal, be still left 69 cents per ton, as the value 
in the ground , of every ton of coal which could 
be taken out and brought to market from the com¬ 
pany’s lands. At this rate, an acre of the eight 

7 


50 


feet bed, would alone, after deducting one-seventh 
for pillars and gangways, be worth $9,344.67; 
and as this bed contains but about one-third of all 
the workable coal above water-level in the centre 
of the basin, the total value of an acre, without 
including the lower beds, may be fairly set down 
at 28,000 dollars. 

Though the above computation is founded on a 
supposed reduction in the price of bituminous coal 
to six dollars per ton, yet I know of no reason to 
expect that it will, for many years to come, be 
reduced to that price. The present price of Vir¬ 
ginia coal in the Philadelphia market, is from 
$6.75 to 7 dollars per ton, by the cargo. 

The adaptation of the situation to the manu¬ 
facture of iron, appears to be complete. The ore 
itself is very abundant, and of excellent qualities. 
The coal is of the class known as 64 dry bitumin- 
nous,” yielding a moderate per centage only of 
volatile matter, and a coke which is not so bulky 
as to choke the furnace, or prevent the application 
of the raw coal to the manufacture of iron, even 
without the labour and expense of coking. This 
remark is not hazarded as a mere conjecture. The 
coal of this basin, has, within a distance of ten or 
twelve miles of the company’s property, been 
actually applied to the manufacture of iron, both 
with and without the process of coking. Having 
visited the works at Lonakoning, I can bear testi¬ 
mony to the fact, that iron of excellent quality 


was made from the ore, coal and limestone found 
on George’s creek, and having before me samples 
of all the materials used at that locality, I can 
discover no superiority in them, over those found 
on the property of the Allegheny Coal Company. 
To leave no doubt on this subject, particularly with 
regard to the coal, I analyzed a sample taken 
from the thick bed, worked near the furnace at 
Lonakoning, and found it constituted as follows: 

Its specific gravity is 1.346. 

It contains of moisture and bitumen, 16.03 per ct. 
“ of earthy matter, 13.22 44 

64 carbon, 70.75 44 

100.00 

It produces a coke rather more bulky than that 
of the majority of coals above described. The 
ashes are nearly of the colour of those of the coal 
from Hoyman’s opening, on the large bed. 

To assure myself of the comparative value of 
coal from an intermediate point, between Lona¬ 
koning and the lands of the company, I examin¬ 
ed that found at the Eckert mine of the Mary¬ 
land Mining Company, which gave the following 
results, viz: 

Its specific gravity is 1.437. 

It contains of volatile matter, 15.62 per ct. 
44 earthy matter, 15.82 44 

44 carbon, 68.56 44 

100.00 

These analyses were made with all the care 
necessary to insure accurate results. Both these 




52 


coals are evidently of the same family, and both are 
intimately related to those above described. The 
higher specific gravity of the Eckert mine coal, 
had, in conformity with a preceding statement, led 
to the supposition of its containing more earthy 
matter than that of Lonakoning;—a conjecture 
fully borne out by the experiment. The iron ore 
used at Lonakoning, yields, in actual operations, 
33 per cent., or a little less, of pig metal. The 
limestone used is nearly black, and apparently 
much inferior to that found on the Jenning’s run, 
particularly the nine feet bed found on the Hoy- 
man tract. 

The more favourable situation of the lands 
of the Allegheny Coal Company in regard to 
transportation, than those in the south-western 
end of the coal-trough, has already been referred 
to; and when we take into view the richness and 
abundance of iron ores, there can hardly be a doubt 
that the manufacture of iron can be carried on in 
the Pennsylvania portion of the basin, with at least 
as much profit as in any other part of this coal field. 

Besides the minerals already enumerated, beds 
of valuable building materials, and seams of fire 
clay occur at various levels in this coal basin; 
and owing to the due admixture of lime in the 
formation, the land is in many parts excellent for 
agricultural purposes. 

I remain, gentlemen, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

WALTER R. JOHNSON. 


Philadelphia , Feb. 16, 1841. 


APPENDIX. 


(A.) 

Extract from a Report on the New Map of Maryland, 1836, 

by Professor J. T. Ducatel. 

Viewed transversely, this coal field presents a succession of 
strata, disposed in a moderate curve, and filling up the valley 
between the Savage mountain and Dan’s mountain, its whole 
depth being computed at fifteen hundred feet. The inferior 
strata that are continuous, most probably basset out toward both 
extremities at a considerable elevation, in the mountains form¬ 
ing the lateral limits of the basin, where they are covered 
unconformably by strata of millstone grit. The surface of 
the deposite is irregular, the ravines of the water-courses 
having penetrated into it to great depths. George’s creek, 
in a distance of thirteen miles and in a longitudinal direction, 
has scooped out its bed through twelve hundred and fifty feet 
of perpendicular elevation, carrying away part of the six foot 
stratum previously mentioned as occurring six hundred feet 
below the fourteen feet bed, and sinking beneath it to the 
depth of 220 feet. On the other hand, Jenning’s run, in the short 
distance of six miles, in a direct line, cuts both longitudinally 
and transversely, through the whole formation, exposing the 
subjacent red sand-stone. Similar lacerations of the deposite 
have been produced by the lateral streams, which at some 
periods of the year act with all the impetuosity of torrents. 
Moreover, the original irregularities of the surface, that have 
since determined the direction of the water-courses, as they 
now appear, were doubtless produced by some more general 
and powerful excavating cause, that has removed perhaps 
more than two-thirds of the whole mass, as it existed at its 
first deposition. That the present irregularities of hill and 
dale have been occasioned by the partial destruction of the 
uppermost strata, is made obvious by the fact that the irregu¬ 
larities of the surface do not affect the dip or inclination of 
those that remain. When they are cut off by the intervention 



54 


of a valley, they will be found on the sides of the opposite 
hills at the some relative levels; showing that the beds had 
once been continuous. It is important to attend to the extent 
and direction in which these causes of dispersion in the upper¬ 
most strata have acted; because a satisfactory reason is thus 
obtained for the total disappearance of valuable beds in an 
intervening place between no very distant spots. The same 
causes, however, furnish facilities for the exploration of strata 
that could not otherwise be reached, except at the labour and 
expense of deep mining operations. 

It is worthy of remark, that in the whole of this coal forma¬ 
tion, equal in extent to that which has been styled ‘ the great 
coal-field of Northumberland and Durham, in England,’ there 
is no reason to expect the occurrence of any faults, or disloca¬ 
tions of the strata. These faults , so termed, probably from 
their baffling for a time the pursuit of the miner, consist of 
deep vertical fissures, usually filled by clay, and including frag¬ 
ments disrupted from the contiguous beds. They are accom¬ 
panied by a subsidence of the strata on one side, or an elevation 
of them on the other; so that the same strata are found at 
different levels on the opposite sides. The change of level 
occasioned by these dislocations, sometimes exceeds five hun¬ 
dred feet; whence may be inferred the immense violence of 
the convulsion that had power to produce the displacement of 
such large masses to so great an extent. It is evident that the 
absence of such irregularities is a favourable circumstance for 
the mining operations that will, doubtless before long, be car¬ 
ried on upon an extensive scale, in the Frostburg coal-field. 


(B.) 


Extract from the Annual Report of the Geologist of Mary - 
ryland , 1839. By Professor J. T . Ducatel, 


The extensive operations that have been carried on at the 
Lonakoning Iron Works, in Allegheny county, can leave no 
doubt now that that region of country is abundantly supplied 
with iron ore, easily obtained, and yielding a very superior 
metal. Specimens of the pig-iron obtained from this estab¬ 
lishment have been forwarded to Baltimore, where they have 
been already tried with complete success, in various ways, and 



55 


« 


the iron left with one of our most ingenious engineers and 
intelligent artists, (Mr. Winans,) to be subjected to further 
experiments that cannot fail to establish a character of great 
excellence to it. Whatever doubts have been expressed, as to 
the quantity and quality of the ore, have been hastily and 
indiscreetly, to say the least of them, entertained. 


(C.) 

Extract from the Third Annual Report on the Geological 
Survey of the state of Pennsylvania. By H. D. Rogers , 
State Geologist. 

This basin commencing towards the head of Stone run, in 
Hardy county, Virginia, ranging through Maryland, and ter¬ 
minating at Will’s creek, in our own state, is here bounded 
on the east by the Little Allegheny, and on the south-west 
[north-west] by the Savage mountain. The Pennsylvanian 
portion of this basin may be estimated at five miles in width, 
measured along the State line, and seven in length. It is 
believed that no coal will be discovered to the north-east of 
Will’s creek, from the close approximation of the bounding 
ridges, the coal measures have there been much exposed to 
denudation and carried off. Of the coal veins enclosed within 
this trough, the highest in the series is that which is principally 
worked. It extends with a very undulating line of outcrop 
near the summit of a long irregular ridge of considerable 
elevation, lying about midway between the Little Allegheny and 
Savage mountains. Numerous transverse valleys of denudation 
intersecting the ridge, have interrupted the regular range of 
this upper coal seam, rendering it difficult to compute the.area 
which it actually occupies, but favouring greatly the operations 
of the miner, to penetrate it by exposing a more extensive out¬ 
crop. Its average thickness, as ascertained in numerous 
places where it has been opened, is about eight feet, the most 
extensive mine being that of David [Henry] Hoyman, about 
a mile north-east of Jenning’s run. 

The identity of this, with the great seam worked at Frost- 
burg, in Maryland, is highly probable, as well from the charac¬ 
ter of the coal itself, and the accompanying shales, as from 
the similarity of its position on the ridge. Several other 



56 


good seams are known, situated lower in the series, in 
thickness from three to five feet, but being less accessible and 
important than the one above, and there being at present but 
a small demand for coal in this neighbourhood, except for local 
use, they have excited but little attention. Iron ore of excel¬ 
lent quality was collected by us on the surface, at many points 
in the basin, and there is reason to believe will be found in 
ample quantities especially associated with the shales of the 
lower seams, whenever the proprietors of the soil shall deem 
it of sufficient consequence to undertake the requisitie diggings. 
Between the coal seams there occur two or more thin bands of 
limestone sufficiently abundant to use as a flux or for agricultu¬ 
ral purposes. 


(D.) 

Extract from, “ A History of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation 
Companyf published by order of the Board of Managers , 
1840, p. 50. 

The present cost of transportation of coal on the Lehigh 
and Delaware Canals, including tolls, is one cent, and six-tenths 
of a cent per ton per mile; and, with a little improvement 
in the Delaware Canal, this cost can be reduced to one cent, 
and four-tenths of a cent per ton per mile : more than half of 
this is tolls or profit to the canals. For this price contracts 
can be made with boatmen, who furnish one or more boats, 
as required, with their own crews, horses, &c. These boats, 
by being decked, would be capable of proceeding to ports on 
the North or East rivers without transhipment. 


(E.) 

Extracts from a Report on the probable Revenue of the Chesa¬ 
peake and Ohio Canal , made to the Baltimore Convention , 
December , 1834, signed A . Stewart , Chairman , p. 48. 

The Committee lay down this position with perfect confi¬ 
dence, that bituminous coal of superior quality can be delivered 
on tide-water, for a less sum by this canal , than it can be deliv- 




ered at any other port , on tide-water , in the United States . 
And if this be true, it follows, as a matter of course, that there 
will be no limit to the demand, for exportation, but the capacity 
of the canal to deliver it. 

It is a well known fact, that, on the Monongahela river, coal 
excavated from similar mines, is now delivered at thirteen steam 
mills and factories, at one cent per bushel. It is presumed it 
will not cost more, under similar circumstances, to deliver it 
in a coal boat on the Potomac ; but let this sum be doubled, 
and say that coal in boats will cost two cents 
Tolls. The tolls charged on the Pennsylvania 
Canal for transportation of coal, is half a cent 
a ton per mile, which, at 28 bushels per ton, 
will be nearly 

Freight. A boat carrying 1,680 bushels, travel¬ 
ling 2 miles per hour, or 48 miles in 24 hours, 

(less than the usual speed), will reach tide in 
4|- days ; it will require, say 2 men, $2, a 
boy and horse 75 cents each, making $3 50 
per day, or $15 75 for the trip, equal to 
nearly 

It is presumed that the returning freight from 
Washington and the Baltimore rail-road will 
at least pay expenses, but suppose there be no 
return loading, charge as above, 

Profits. Add for profits $32 per load, more 
than 25 per cent, on the whole capital em¬ 
ployed, 

Total at tide, 

But suppose the canal to terminate at Cumber¬ 
land, (186 miles,) and the coal to be carried 
7i miles on a rail-road, and to cost in the 
boats 4J- cents instead of 2, as above, differ¬ 
ence, 2* 

12J cts. per b. 

The committee have thus adopted the most liberal allow¬ 
ances, more than they believe will be the actual cost; and they 
feel confident that the strictest scrutiny into all the elements 
of the calculation cannot increase the price they have adopted. 

If then the bituminous coal from Cumberland can be deliv¬ 
ered at tide, for this sum, of course it can be transported coast¬ 
wise to all our Atlantic ports and towns cheaper than it can 

8 


2 cts. per b. 

4 cts. per b. 

1 ct. per b. 

1 ct. per b. 

2 cts. per b. 
10 cts. per b. 



58 


be obtained from any other part of the world ; and if so, can 
there be any assignable limit to the demand 1 

Let us see whether this position is sustained by facts. The 
cost of transporting coal from Philadelphia to Washington, 
(as a regular business and not as ballast,) is $1 50 per ton, or 
5 cents per bushel; to Baltimore, coastwise or by rail-road 
from Point of Rocks, 4 cents per bushel; to Boston $2 per 
ton, or 7 cents per bushel, and it may be carried to Charleston, 
or the most distant of our seaports, for 8 cents per bushel, 
which is more than is received by importers from Liverpool, 
viz: cost at Liverpool 12-t, duties 6 cents; deduct, also, insu¬ 
rance, commissions, wharfage, &c. from 28 cents per bushel, 
the price received by them in the American ports, and it 
leaves less than 8 cents for freight. Apply these facts, and 
the cost of Cumberland coal will be in our principal cities as 
follows, viz: 

In Washington, Alexandria and Georgetown, (per 

bushel) 12i cents 

Present price 87 per ton or 25 


Saving, 12^ 

In Baltimore it will be 16 cents, viz: 

At Washington, 12^ 
Freight, 4 


16 i 

Present price, 25 


Saving, 8i 

In Philadelphia it will cost 17^ cents, viz: 

At Washington, 124 - 
Freight now paid, 5 


17-i 

The price of bituminous coal is now 87 per ton, or 25 


Saving, 

[At Philadelphia, anthracite is 85 per ton, or 17^ 
cents per bushel; so that the Cumberland will not 
affect the anthracite, but merely supply the bitu¬ 
minous coal, required for many uses to which the 
anthracite is inapplicable, viz: gas, coke, smith’s 
shop, steam purposes, &c.] 







59 


In Boston it would cost 19^ cents, viz : 

In Washington city, 121 
Freight, 7 


19£ 

Present price in Boston $9 per ton, or (per bushel) 32 

Saving, 121 

Thus it appears, from well authenticated facts, collected with 
great pains, that Cumberland coal can be delivered, coastwise, 
at all our Atlantic cities and towns, cheaper than it can be ob¬ 
tained from any other part of the United States, or Europe ; 
and of course the capacity of the canal to furnish it will be the 
only limit to the supply required. 



Charter of the Allegheny Coal Company. 

Section fcl. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of 
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , in 
General Assembly met , and it is hereby enacted by the author¬ 
ity of the same , That James Armstrong, jr., George Weller, 
John Mong, Jacob Myers, (G. S.) Samuel W. Pearson, Alex¬ 
ander B. Fleming, Jonathan Ivnepper, and Daniel Baird, and 
their associates, successors and assigns, be and they are hereby 
constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name, style 
and title of the “ Allegheny Coal Company,” for the purpose of 
mining: coal, and for the transacting: of the usual business of 
companies engaged in the mining, transporting to market, and 
selling of coal, and the other products of coal mines. And the 
said corporation, by the said name, is hereby declared and 
made capable in law to sue and be sued, to plead and be im¬ 
pleaded, to have a common seal, and the same to alter and 
renew at pleasure, to make rules and by-laws for the regulation 
and management of the said corporation, consistent with the 
laws of the United States, and of this Commonwealth, and gen¬ 
erally to do and execute for the well being of said company, 
whatever shall lawfully pertain to such bodies politic : Provided , 
That nothing herein contained shall be considered as in any 





60 


way giving to said company any banking privileges, but they 
shall be exclusively confined to the operations pertaining to the 
business aforesaid, according to the true intent and meaning 
of this act: Arid provided also , That each stockholder shall 
be liable in his individual capacity for the debts, and perform¬ 
ance of all contracts entered into by the said company, to the 
amount of the balance unpaid on the stock of said company. 

Section 2. The said company shall have the right to hold 
either by purchase or lease, not exceeding two thousand acres 
of land at any one time, the whole to be within the townships 
of Southampton and Greenville, in the county of Somerset, 
in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the same, or any 
part thereof, to sell, or otherwise dispose of, as the interest 
of the company may require : Provided, That the said com¬ 
pany may hold, as above, such lot or lots of land, not exceeding 
five acres, in any one place, as may be found convenient as 
places of deposit in the transportation and sale of the products 
of their mines. 

Section 3. The capital stock of said company shall be 
and consist of three hundred thousand dollars, and shall be 
divided into six thousand shares, of fifty dollars each ; which 
capital stock shall only be employed in the holding and pur¬ 
chasing the lands aforesaid, with the improvements, if any 
thereon, and in constructing such other improvements, build¬ 
ings, cars, boats, engines, and machinery, as may be necessary 
or useful for the mining, transportation, and sale of coal, 
and in the payment of such salaries, wages, and other expen¬ 
ditures, as shall be requisite for the purposes aforesaid, of 
the company; and the said stock shall be assignable and trans¬ 
ferable, according to such rules as the board of directors shall 
establish. 

Section 4. When the above named James Armstrong, jr., 
George Weller, John Mong, Jacob Myers, (G. S.) Samuel 
W. Pearson, Alexander B. Fleming, Jonathan Knepper, and 
Daniel Baird, and their associates, shall have subscribed the 
whole number of shares aforesaid, and actually paid and ex¬ 
pended not less than fifteen per cent, of the capital, aforesaid, 
in purchasing lands, and in such other investments as are 
authorized by this act for the use of said company, the gov¬ 
ernor, on due evidence thereof, shall, by letters-patent, under 
his hand, and the seal of the state, create and erect the said 
James Armstrong, jr., George Weller, John Mong, Jacob My¬ 
ers, (G. S.) Samuel W. Pearson, Alexander B. Fleming, Jona¬ 
than Knepper, 'Daniel Baird, and their associates, successors, 


61 


and assigns, into one body corporate, by the name, style and 
title of the “ Allegheny Coal Company.” 

Section 5. The affairs of the said company shall be man¬ 
aged by seven directors to be chosen annually from the stock¬ 
holders. The first election shall be held in the borough of 
Somerset, county of Somerset, within thirty days after letters- 
patent aforesaid, shall have been issued, of which election, 
public notice shall be given by four or more of the corporators 
named in the first section of this act, at least two weeks prior 
thereto, in two or more newspapers printed in the county of 
Somerset, and the subsequent elections shall be held annually, 
at such convenient time and place as the directors shall deter¬ 
mine, of which thirty days previous notice, shall in like manner 
be given by the president of said company, or by any five 
of the directors : Provided , That in the event of a failure to 
hold such election, the former directors may continue in office 
for a period not exceeding six months, or until such election 
shall be held. 

Section 6. The election for directors shall be held by bal¬ 
lot, and each stockholder shall be entitled to vote according 
to the number of shares held by said stockholder, in the pro¬ 
portion following, that is to say: for each share, and not 
exceeding four shares, one vote ; for every two shares above 
four, and not exceeding ten, one vote; for every four shares 
above ten, and not exceeding thirty, one vote; for every ten 
shares above thirty, and not exceeding one hundred, one vote ; 
for every twenty shares above one hundred, one vote. No 
share shall confer a right of voting which shall not have been 
transferred at least three calender months prior to the day of 
election, nor unless it be bona fide held or owned by the person 
in whose name it appears, in his own right, or in that of his 
wife, or for his or her sole use and benefit, or as executor or 
administrator, trustee or guardian, or in the right or for the 
use and benefit of some copartnership, society or corporation, 
of which he or she may be a member. And all vctes by 
proxy, shall be on such terms and conditions as are prescribed 
by the act passed on the twenty-eighth day of March, one 
thousand eight hundred and twenty, entitled “ an act to regulate 
proxies.” 

Section 7. The directors shall, as soon as conveninent after 
their election, choose one of their number as president, to 
serve for one year, they shall also have power to appoint as 
occasion may require, all other officers and agents of the com¬ 
pany, and to supply vacancies in the board arising from death, 


62 


resignation or otherwise, until the next annual election. At 
all meetings of the board, four directors shall form a quorum 
to transact business. 

Section 8. The directors may, from time to time, call in on 
thirty days notice thereof, in at least two newspapers printed 
in the county of Somerset, such instalments on the stock of 
said company, as they may judge best, not exceeding twenty 
per cent, thereof, at any one time and place appointed, and if 
any instalment of the stock so called in, shall remain unpaid 
for the space of thirty days after the time so appointed, every 
such stockholder, or his or her assignee, shall, in addition to 
the instalment so called for, pay at the rate of two per centum 
per month, for the delay of such payment, and if the same 
and additional penalty shall remain unpaid for such space of 
time, as that the accumulated penalty shall become equal to 
the sums before paid in part and on account of such shares, 
the same shall be forfeited to the said company, and may be 
sold to any person or persons willing to purchase for such 
prices as can be obtained for the same, or in default of pay¬ 
ment by any stockholder of any such instalment as aforesaid, 
the president and directors may, at their election, cause suit to 
be brought before an alderman or justice of the peace, or in 
any court having competent jurisdiction, for the recovery of 
the same, together with the penalty aforesaid. Provided, 
That no stockholder, whether an original subscriber or as¬ 
signee, shall be entitled to vote at any election or at any general 
or special meeting of the said company, on whose share or 
shares any instalments or arrearages may be due and payable 
more than thirty days previously to the said election or meet- 
ing. 

Section 9. Dividends of so much of the profits of the com¬ 
pany, as shall appear to the directors advisable, shall be de¬ 
clared twice a year, and paid to the stockholders or their legal 
representatives on demand, at any time after the expiration of 
ten days after having been declared, but said dividends shall in 
no case exceed the amount of net profits actually acquired by 
the company, so that the capital stock shall never thereby be 
impaired, and if any dividend shall be declared which shall 
impair the capital stock of the said company, the directors con¬ 
senting thereto shall be liable in their individual capacities to said 
company, for the amount of the stock so divided, and each direc¬ 
tor present when such dividend shall be declared, shall be 
adjudged consenting thereto, unless he shall forthwith give pub¬ 
lic notice to the stockholders of the declaring of such dividend. 
Provided , That whenever the dividends shall exceed six per 


63 


cent, per annum, the said company shall pay a tax of eight pel 1 
cent, on all such dividends into the treasury of the state, for 
the purposes of education, and the president of said company 
shall annually in the month of January, transmit to the legisla¬ 
ture under oath or affirmation, a statement of the receipts and 
expenditures thereof, and of any dividends which may have 
been declared during the preceding year. 

Section 10. It shall not be lawful for the said president, 
directors and company, nor any of their agents, nor any other 
person whatever employed by or under them, or any of them, 
for the purpose contemplated in this act, to enter upon any 
land which they shall deem necessary for the construction 
and completion of the said rail-road or rail-roads, or any part 
thereof, either by the making of any excavation or embank¬ 
ments, or for the mere purpose of searching for stone, earth or 
gravel, or for the felling of timber for the construction and 
completion of the said road or roads, until the rate of compen¬ 
sation for injury sustained or to be sustained by reason of the 
construction thereof, shall have been previously ascertained 
and paid, or the amount thereof secured in such a manner as 
shall prove satisfactory to the owner or owners of such land, 
which said compensation if the parties cannot agree thereon, 
shall be ascertained in the same manner as is prescribed and 
provided for in the fifteenth section of the act of the sixth 
day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty, incor¬ 
porating the Middleport and Pine Creek Rail-road Company. 

Section 11 . Any legal process served on any agent or man¬ 
ager of said company, is hereby declared to be to all intents 
and purposes as valid as the same would have been if served 
on the president and directors thereof. 

Section 12. The company hereby incorporated shall have 
power to construct rail-roads with one or more tracts from any 
point or points on their land, to the Maryland line, in the direc¬ 
tion of Cumberland. Said company shall have the same 
powers and immunities, and be subject to the same terms and 
conditions that are provided for in the act to incorporate the 
Beaver Meadow Rail-road and Canal Company, and the supple¬ 
ments thereto. Provided , That the said company shall not 
prevent any person or persons, company or companies, here¬ 
after incorporated, being the owner or owners of land border¬ 
ing on the said rail-road or rail-roads, or adjacent thereto from 
making lateral rail-roads, and to connect them with said rail¬ 
road or rail-roads, from their said lands, as the said person or 
persons, company or companies, may conceive necessary for 


64 


the purpose of transporting their coal or produce upon said rail¬ 
road or rail-roads, subject to the payment of the same rates of 
toll now charged by the Minehill and Schuylkill Haven rail¬ 
road, by virtue of the sixth section of the supplement of their 
act of incorporation, passed on the twenty-third day of March, 
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and that the turn¬ 
outs for such lateral roads shall be so constructed and kept as not 
to interfere with the use of the main road or roads, and all cars 
or wagons run upon the same, shall be subject to such rules 
and regulations as may be prescribed by the company, and be 
intended to keep the track of said road or roads, free and open 
for the uninterrupted passage of the cars of every person desir¬ 
ing to travel thereon. 

Section 13. This act shall continue and be in force until 
the first day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand 
eight hundred and sixty-five. Provided , That it shall be law¬ 
ful for the legislature at any time, to amend or repeal any of 
the foregoing provisions, and to rescind the powers hereby 
granted, in such manner however, that no injury may be done 
to the coporators. 

WM. HOPKINS, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives . 

CHARLES B. PENROSE, 

Speaker of the Senate . 

Approved— This twenty-fifth day of May, a. d. eighteen 
hundred and thirty-nine. 


DAVID R. PORTER. 



AN EXAMINATION OF THE 


BEAR VALLEY COAL DISTRICT 


IN DAUPIIIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 


BY WALTER R. J OIIN S ON, A. M. 

CIVIL AND MINING ENGINEER, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY 
AND NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, IN THE MEDICAL 
DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, 
PHILADELPHIA. 


JMulnUclpIua: 

HUNTED BY JOSEPH & WILLIAM KITE, 


SEVENTH AND CARPENTER STREETS. 


1841. 
















' 




























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. 

■ 



































































REPORT. 


To the President and Directors df the Lykens Valley Coal Co. 

The undersigned having visited the coal district constituting the 
western fork of the southern anthracite field of Pennsylvania, 
examined the mines, analyzed the minerals, and observed attentively 
the facilities for conveying them to market, respectfully states, that 
this coal district embraces a very large amount of valuable coal 
land, and is one of the most accessible and most easily wrought, of 
all our Pennsylvania coal deposites. 

It lies between Lykens’ Valley on the north and Williams’ Valley 
on the south; these two valleys being bounded, the former, on the 
north by Mohantango Mountain, and the latter on the south, by 
Berry’s Mountain. 

These are termed Red slate valleys, and are rich, productive and 
extensively cultivated, yielding abundant supplies of agricultural 
produce suitable for a large mining district. 

The coal formation proper is included in an elongated basin or 
trough, called Bear Valley, situated between two elevated ridges, 
viz:—Thick Ridge, on the north, dividing it from Lykens’ Valley, 
and Big Lick RicJge, on the south, which separates it from Wil¬ 
liams’s Valley. 

The approach to this valley is through a deep cut or gap in the 
Big Lick Ridge, called Bear Gap, formed by a creek which comes 
out of the valley and joins the Wiconisco, by which its waters are 
conveyed to the Susquehanna river at Millersburg. 

This gap extending quite through the southern brim of the trough, 
and dividing the various beds of which the coal measures are com¬ 
posed, has left the edges, or rather ends of the coal seams so exposed, 
as to be entered by horizontal drifts or gangways, involving no 
necessity for artificial draining. The coal seams both east and 
west of the gap, dip northwardly in an angle of about 45 degrees, 
and hence when the gangways have been driven to the proper 
extent, the workings commence in an ascending direction, and the 
coal is delivered to cars in the gangways over shutes formed on the 
floors of the beds themselves. On some of the beds the breadth of 
working: or breast of coal wdll not be less than 600 or 800 feet. In 
others it will probably exceed 1000 feet. This facility of delivering 
the coal obviates the necessity of handling it after being detached 
from the solid bed. The mines which I examined were perfectly dry, 
and more comfortable, therefore, than almost any others which I have 
visited in the anthracite coal fields. 

But besides the facility of mining the coal on the southern side of 



( 4 ) 

the trough by means of tho exposure of the ends of beds at the 
gap, there is the additional advantage of approaching the northern 
or south-dipping beds by means of a tunnel to be carried horizontally 
across the beds northwards and through all the interposed strata of 
slates, sandstones, iron ores, fire clays, &c., and as each successive 
bed is reached, working right and left by drifts in a manner perfectly 
analogous to that which is now pursued at the gap. 

The openings on these south-dipping beds, on the property of the 
Lykens’ Valley Coal Company, at different heights on the slope of 
the ridge, have disclosed the fact that in numerous beds good coal 
is found even at a very few feet from the surface, with roofs and 
floors of adequate consistence to allow of mining to within a few 
yards of the outcrop. 

If all the beds of the formation, known to be 80 feet in aggregate 
thickness, lay in a horizontal position, a single acre of land in which 
they were so situated would contain 129,068 cubic yards, or the 
same number of tons of coal; and if the same thickness of coal in 
a single bed or succession of beds were inclined at an angle of 45 
degrees, the quantity of coal in an acre would be increased in the pro¬ 
portion of 142 to 100, or it would then be 183,273 tons. All the 
beds of an inclined formation may be worked on a single acre of 
land, supposed to extend in a very narrow strip quite across the 
breadth of the trough, and the whole number of acres may therefore 
be considered as possessing like advantages over the same num¬ 
ber of acres, of which the strata should be supposed horizontal. 
Now 370 acres of the company’s lands lie in a broad belt stretching 
directly across the coal measures, and embrace as well those parts 
of the beds which lie below water level, as those which in the two 
mountain ridges rise up several hundred feet above that level. In 
these 370 acres there would be found by the preceding computation 
183273 X 370 = 56,268,010 tons of coal. Admitting that from 
denudation and other causes only one 10th as much coal shall ever 
be obtained, the yield of this small portion of the lands will be 
5,626,801 tons, or such an amount that if 50,000 tons per annum 
were taken out, a century would be far from exhausting this limited 
part of the company’s domain. 

Thus enough is already known respecting the number and thickness 
of beds of coal on the lands of the Lykens Valley Coal Company to 
assure us that a long series of years, must with all the force which 
can be applied to it, be required to exhaust the coal on a single tract. 

The present workings have hardly passed the threshold of the 
formation—and are in the thinner and less valuable beds, as all 
observation and experience tend to demonstrate. Even on the Gap 
tract, so called, many of the more important beds of the formation 
remain yet to be explored. 

The following sketch (page 6) exhibits the inclination, thickness and 
distance apart of the beds in Thick Ridge, as observed and carefully 
measured at Raush Gap, and confirmed by numerous openings 
opposite to Bear Gap. For this sketch I am indebted to Mr. P. W. 


( 5 ) 


Schaeffer, who prepared it from actual measurements. The dip is 
south 8 or 10 degrees east, about 40 degrees. 

From this sketch it appears that the total thickness of coal in the 
formation is not less than 80 feet on the north side of the trough, 
(and the same will doubtless apply to the south ridge,) and that 
more than two thirds of this thickness, is found in seven beds lying 
in the inner or iipper portion of the formation, and within a space of 
130 yards measured horizontally across the strata. The openings 
at Bear Gap demonstrate the same general feature. Hence it is 
confidently believed that in a distance of two hundred yards, at 
most, all these beds will be reached by the tunnel above proposed, if 
commenced in the most favourable situation. 

The tunnel might be 12 feet wide and 7 high, and its execution 
might be progressive as new beds were required to be opened. The 
cost of excavation could not, 1 judge, in the materials here found, 
exceed 10 dollars per lineal foot, for the first 200 yards. 

In the beds to be reached by this tunnel, coal could be mined for 
50 cents per ton, agreeably to the estimate of Mr. Schaeffer, who 
has been long conversant with the operations in this coal field. 


Means of Transportation. 

The distance from the point where I propose that this tunnel shall 
be commenced, to the Susquehanna river, is 16 miles, traversed by 
the Lykens Valley Rail Road. The superstructure of this road 
requires to be renewed with T rails, fit to bear transportation by 
locomotives, and the grading on one section to be altered so as to 
render the whole line either level or descending in the direction of 
the freight. This alteration will likewise improve the plan ot \\\q 
road, removing or diminishing several curves, and with these 
changes, it will, I conceive, be made one of the best rail roads for 
descending tonnage in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. It termi¬ 
nates on the river at the mouth of Wiconisco creek, and at the 
commencement of the Wiconisco canal. This canal is now nearly 
completed, requiring only one or two aqueducts and two or three 
locks to be made, with unimportant excavations to be finished, 
to place it in a condition to receive the water. Of an original esti¬ 
mate of 416,000 dollars for making this canal, $364,500 have already 
been expended, leaving only a balance of 51,500 dollars required to 
complete the work. For this comparatively trifling sum, it is not to 
be supposed that the state will foregothe advantage of receiving the 
great amount of tolls which this mineral region can bring, not only 
to the Wiconisco, but also to the whole line of state canal from 
Millersburg to Columbia, a distance of 53 miles. 

The coal will reach tide water at Havre de Grace, 981 miles from 
Millersburg, where it will have cost, agreeably to an estimate by 
Mr. Schaeffer, (which seems to me ample for every item of the 
expense, at least in the aggregate,) the sum of $3 12£ per ton. 







The boats used on this line of navigation will carry 65 tons, and 
being covered over with suitable hatches, may be towed to Balti¬ 
morean which case the coal delivered on the wharves need not cost 
over $3*50 per ton* 


Cost of Coal at Tide Water . 

The following estimates have been made by Mr. Henry Shaeffer, 
of Wiconisco, of the expense of mining and delivering coal from the 
Lykens Valley Coal Company’s mines at Bear Gap, to Havre de 
Grace and to Baltimore, supposing the Wiconisco canal finished,, 
the rail road renewed with edge rails, and the tunnel opened into the 


north slope of the valley opposite to the forks. 

Per tom 

“1. Mining and delivering at the mouth of the tunnel, $0 50 

2. Screening and loading into cars, 12} 

3. Tolls on the rail road 16 miles at 1} cts. per ton per m. 24 

4. Motive power on do. 26 

5. Use of cars, attendance, oil, and contingencies, 37 } 

6. Putting on board boats at Millersburg, 12} 

7. Freight on 98} miles of canal at % ct. per ton per m. 75 

8. Tolls on do. at } ct. per ton per mile, say 50 

9. Contingencies and waste, 25 


Cost of coal in the boats at Havre de Grace, 3 12} 
Towing to Baltimore, 25 

Handling and stacking, 12} 


Cost at Baltimore, $3 50” 


On the above, I would remark, that the 3d, 4th and 5th items, 
making up the cost of transportation on 16 miles of rail road, amount 
to 87} cents per ton, while at Shamokin the transportation over a 
flat-bar rail road is done by contract with the rail road company, 
they finding cars, attendance, and every other expense, for GO cents, 
over a distance of 19 miles, or a trifle over 3 cts. per ton per mile, 
including tolls; while Mr. Schaeffer’s estimate makes it 5} cts. per 
ton per mile. I will allow that on the Lykens Valley rail road, the 
cost may be, on 16 miles, a little more than on the 19 at Shamokin, 
and will suppose it 62} cents per ton, in order to be sure to 
cover the whole expense. This is 3} cents per ton per mile. This 
will leave 25 cents to be added to his estimate of the cost of freight 
and toll on the canal, which I think requires this addition—making 
the cost of both items 1 T ^ cents per ton per mile ; which, in boats 
carrying 65 tons, is certainty a liberal allowance. 

The cost of one handling will be saved by screening the coal at 
the mouth of the tunnel over several successive screens, separating 





( 8 ) 


the different sizes and loading the cars directly from the screens. 
This will save at least a part of charge No. 2 in Mr. Schaeffer’s 
estimate. The loading into boats at Millersburg, (No. 6) is, I con¬ 
sider, charged too high at least if it be not intended to cover the 
waste as well as the handling. 

These deductions from other items, being 8 cents, added to No. 9, 
making in all 33 cents per ton for waste, I judge the latter will be 
fully adequate to cover that part of the cost. It is obviously unim¬ 
portant to the land-owner how the items of expense are adjusted, 
but it may be proper to notice that the rail road proposed to be 
renewed is not likely to cost more for freight over it, than similar 
roads elsewhere. Though differing slightly in the particulars, it 
will be seen that I consider the total cost stated by Mr. Schaeffer to 
be entirely safe and practical. 


Market for CoaL 

The city of Baltimore is already the market of considerable quan¬ 
tities of anthracite, and no doubt the consumption there will augment, 
as the increasing demands of the arts and of steam navigation must 
put, annually more and more into requisition. The city of Washing¬ 
ton likewise requires for domestic purposes no inconsiderable supply. 
And if, as is confidently expected, anthracite should be adopted 
as fuel for our naval steamers, the Chesapeake will naturally require 
a depot of the article, and that which comes most readily to its 
waters will be able to afford the supply on most advantageous terms. 

But let us recur to some facts which prove what are the chances 
of this coal making its way in eastern markets. This will best be 
seen by recurring to what the Philadelphia market has hitherto been 
able to furnish coal for, and comparing the cost there by the cargo 
with the cost of Lyken’s Valley coal at Havre de Grace and at 
Baltimore. 

In order to judge of the probable effect of variations in price of 
coal on the success of this company and the chances of its opera¬ 
tions being at any time suspended for want of an adequate profit to 
justify the prosecution of its works, an examination has been made 
to ascertain the price of coal by the cargo at Philadelphia during 
the month of October of each year for eight or nine years, from 
1831 to 1841, only two years being omitted, viz. 1833 and 1837, of 
which the records were not at hand. From this examination it appears 
that the average price of coal on the Schuylkill was as follows, 
viz.:— 


1831, 

from 

$4 50 

to 

$5 

00 

mean 

$4 75 

1832, 

t i 

6 50 

<< 

7 

00 


6 75 

1834, 

u 

4 50 

a 

5 

00 

a 

4 75 

1835, 

ii 

4 75 

a 

5 

25 

a 

5 00 



( ® ) 


In Oct. 1836, from f6 50 

to $7 00 

mean 

$6 75 

1838, “ 5 00 

“ / 5 50 

a 

5 25 

1839, “ 4 75 

“ 5 50 

a 

5 124 

1840, “ 5 00 

“ 5 50 

ii 

5 25 

In Aug. 1841, it is from 5 25 

“ 5 50 

it 

5 37| 


Mean 

average 

5 44 


It appears that the lowest point reached was $4 75 per ton in 1831 
and 1854; while the average price for the nine years has been $5 44. 
Since the city of Baltimore is about as easily reached as Philadel¬ 
phia by vessels from eastern ports, there is no reason to doubt that 
coal will be taken from the former city to Boston or New York, if 
not for the same price, at least for no considerable advance on the 
price of freights paid from the latter. Hence the profit on coal at 
Baltimore in the most unfavourable times will be 4 75-3 50=1 25 ; 
or say one dollar per ton, while, according to the average price, the 
profit will be 5 44-3 50=1 94, say 1 69; deducting in each case 
25 cents per ton for the increase of distance in going to Baltimore 
instead of Philadelphia. 

Admitting the justness of the preceding calculations, and that the- 
operations of the company should in one year reach only 50,000 
tons, there would be a clear profit of 50,000 dollars in the most 
unfavourable seasons, and 84,500 dollars in the average times of the 
coal trade supposed to remain as heretofore in regard to prices.. 
There is very little reason to expect that prices will again fall below 
$5 per ton. 


Character of Lxfkens Valley Coal. 

This coal is of the variety generally known in commerce as free- 
burning red ash coal. It enjoys already a high reputation for giving, 
when used for domestic purposes, a steady but lively heat, and yield¬ 
ing little earthy residuum. It is also highly esteemed by smiths and 
founders ; and not less so by those who have applied it to the produc¬ 
tion of steam, the burning of lime, and the smelting of iron. 

The exterior characters of the coal of different beds are some¬ 
what various; and it is not a little remarkable that the kind most 
sought after by blacksmiths, is that which at first sight might seem 
the most unpromising, being often covered almost entirely with a 
coat of yellowish or red oxide of iron, from which it has received 
the name of the “ rusty vein.” In other beds the coal is of the 
clearest jet black, and presents the varieties of tint, dull and bright, 
due to a greater or less intermixture of mineral charcoal with the 
pure anthracite. 

The following analyses of this coal, with the subsequent compari¬ 
son between it and the Welsh anthracite used by Mr. Crane, may 
be interesting in view of its applicability to iron manufactures. 

2 




( 10 ) 

Tabular view of the Analyses o f nine samples of Anthracite from the 
mines of the Lykens Valley Coal Company. 


jNo. of the 
sample. 

Specific gravity. 

\Y uter expelled 
at 320°. 

Volatile matter 
lost at redness. 

Fixed Carbon. 

Earthy residue. 

Exterior and other 
characters of coal. 

Character of ashes. 

i 

1.391 

1.460 

1.3D 0 

6.140 

4.56 

87.950 

4.450 

Deep black—fracture irre¬ 
gular, shining—or dull from 
intermixture of charcoal—of 
of which the structure is dis¬ 
tinctly seen—and which is 
soft—sectile and easily com¬ 
bustible—gives out gas, but 
does not change form on being 
ignited. 

Colour deep brown 
-inclining to reddish 
brown —light—little 
coherent, moderately 
gritty. 

2 

1.404 

89.300 

4.750 

Brownish black—iridescent 
or steel blue—surface shining 
and striated — woody struc¬ 
ture of the mineral charcoal 
seen as above—gas burns 
brightly. 

Light fawn colour, 
moderately gritty— 
lights—lightly cohe¬ 
rent. 

3 

1.416 

o 

o 

9.30 

85.700 

4.300 

Lustre silky on a carbona¬ 
ceous ground — mixture of 
mineral charcoal in certain 
parts, with a coke like mass. 

Brownish butf— 
slightly coherent. 

4 

1.374 

1.10 

3.50 

88.700 

6.700 

Very similar to tile preced¬ 
ing. 

Brownish — dirty 
red, with slight tinge 
of purple — very 
slightly coherent — 
incineration probably 
not quite complete. 

5 

1.376 

0.88 

7.47 

87.750 

3.900 

Colour deep black—frac¬ 
ture uneven with appearances 
of coke or charcoal. 

Yellowish red — 
inclining to brown— 
dense—coherent. 

6 

1.395 

0.90 

7.40 

88.650 

3.050 

This sample is less mark 
ed with carbonaceous depo- 
sites than the preceding—a 
purplish red tint marks some 
of the partings, or cross cleats. 

Colour deep fawn 
gritty—heavy cohe¬ 
rent. 

7 

1.382 

0.090 

7.75 

87.200 

% 

4.150 

Colour deep black—surface 
shining, striated, silky and 
occasionally 7 of a dull char¬ 
coal lustre—fracture uneven, 
original grain apparently obli¬ 
terated by pressure. 

Bright fawn—with 
slight tinge of rose 
colour, gritty, cohe¬ 
rent. 

8 

1.398 

1.314 

10.54 

83.996 

4.150 

Appears to resemble certain 
varieties of bituminous coal 
in structure, fracture and 
lustre, with slight specks of 
pyrites. 

Bright buff colour, 
tolerably coherent— 
slightly gritty. 

9 

1.378 

1.360 

5.94 

87.000 

5.700 

Dull black—surlace shin¬ 
ing at the fractures which 
cross the grain of the coal — 
lorizontal seams conspicuous, 
fine carbonaceous dust seen 

Incineration not 
quite perfect, minute 
>art.icies of coal per¬ 
ceptible-colour deep 
fawn. 

m’an' 

1.390 

1.111 

6.955 

87.360 

4.572 

in the interstices. 




















































( 11 ) 


The anthracite of Bear Valley is marked with numerous impres¬ 
sions of the vegetable substances from which the coal has been 
derived. These are not confined to the slates, but penetrate the 
body of the anthracite itself. The fossils are precisely similar in 
kind to those found in this and other countries, among the beds of 
bituminous coal, and correspond perfectly with descriptions already 
extant; and the minutest characteristic line traced on a bituminous 
coal slate in Great Britain, France, Germany or South America, 
has its exact counterpart in the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania. 
Indeed there can no longer exist a question about the fossils of 
anthracite and bituminous coals belonging to the same geological 
period, since we know, that in one and the same coal trough we 
have perfect anthracite at one end, and perfect bituminous coal at 
the other with a regular gradation of qualities between them.* 

Among the many varieties of anthracite found in Pennsylvania, 
none, according to my observation, bears a stronger analogy to that 
of Yniscedwyn in Wales, used at Crane’s iron works, than the coal 
of Lykens Valley. 

The first step in tracing this analogy is to mark the relation by 
external characters. 

These, in the Welsh coal, are, 

1. A structure often lamellated, and tending to separate at the 
surfaces of deposition, owing to the quantity of carbonaceous clod 
which constitutes the dull seams between the bright plies of coal. 

2. The abundance and magnitude of reeds and stems constituting 
the charcoal deposites, traversing the anthracite. 

3. The shining and polished surfaces occasionally presenting 
themselves to view at some of the natural partings. 

4. The purplish tints of metallic oxide often observable on the 
surfaces of fracture. 

5. The general colour is deep black, and either dull or shining 
according as the ply which is examined belongs to the anthracite 
itself or to the carbonaceous clod partings of the seams. 

By observing attentively the external characters described in the 
7th column of the preceding table, it will be seen that all the fore- 
f going distinctive marks belong also to the anthracite of the Bear 
Valley coal field. 

The next circumstance worthy of attention in tracing the relation 
of coals, is their specific gravities. In the Welsh anthracite this is 
from 1.336 to 1.372, not much greater than that of many bitumin¬ 
ous coals. The nine samples of the table above given afford a mean 
specific gravity of 1.390; the highest being 1.416 and the lowest 
1.374. 

The quantity of volatile matter next deserves notice. Of this, the 


* The fossils most frequently observed at Bear Valley are various species of Filicites 
Stigrnariae, Lepidodendra, Catamites, &c. A specimen of Stigmaria ficoides four inches 
broad was found imbedded in pure anthracite. 


( 12 ) 


Welsh anthracite 
myself. 


contains by the mean of 

of two by Mr. Mushet, 
of one by Mr. Frazer, 


two trials made 
9.18 per cent. 
7.23 
7.GO 


by 


(( 




The mean of these five is 8.072 

The water and other volatile matter in my analyses of Lykens 
Valley coal are separately determined ; the mean ol water is 1.111, 
and of other gases, 6.955 ; the sum of which is 8.006. 

The mean quantity of earthy matter in the Welsh anthracite by 
three of Mr. Mushet’s trials is - 3.578 

by one of Mr. Frazer’s - 5.080 

and the average of these two is 4.329 

In the Lykens Valley anthracite, the table shows a mean of 4.572. 

The quantity of carbon in the coal of Yniscedwyn as deduced 
from the preceding data is 87.599, while the table shows 87.360 in 
that of Lykens Valley. 

Bringing the preceding statements into a single view the analogy 
will be perceived at a glance. 

Sp. Gr. Vol. Mat. Carbon. Ashes. 

Yniscedwyn coal 1.354 8.072 87.599 4.329 

Lykens Valley do. 1.390 8.066 87.360 4.572 

If any thing more were wanting to make out the absolute identity 
of character in these coals, so remote from each other in locality, it 
would be supplied by the perfect similarity of effects observed to 
result from their distillation, yielding at first a gas burning with a 
pale blue flame and afterwards, as the temperature rises, one of 
strong illuminating power, accompanied by a minute portion of bitu¬ 
minous, condensible matter. The illuminating gas seems to com¬ 
mence suddenly its developement from the Welsh coal, and perhaps 
also from that of Lykens Valley, but in the latter this circumstance 
was not particularly noted. 

Rich and valuable as are the beds of anthracite in Bear Valley, 
it will be seen from what follows that these are not the only minerals 
worthy of consideration, embraced within the district. Like all 
other known coal formations, it is interspersed with seams of argil¬ 
laceous carbonate of iron, but as no researches have yet been 
expressly directed to this object but little more than the outcrop 
has hitherto been explored. 


Iron Ores. 

The following analyses of the iron ores found in contiguity with 
the coal beds of Bear gap, were made in the dry way, and may 
consequently be regarded as very nearly representing the results 





( 13 ) 


which would be obtained in the process of actual manufacture, 
except that as the ores were from near the outcrop of the bed they 
are rather richer in iron than they would have been, if not exposed 
to the influences of air and moisture. 


No. 1. Species .— Argillaceous carbonate, passing into hydrated 
peroxide of iron. 

Description .— Form spheroidal; texture, course; colour, 
from grayish blue to reddish brown. 

Specific gravity, at 62° Fahr. 3.40 
Water expelled at 350° 

Loss by calcination 


Pig metal obtained 
Earthy matter 
Oxygen 


2.82 per cent. 
20.87 
42.37 
21.84 
12.10 


it 


iC 


u 


100 . 

The pig metal obtained in this assay was moderately hard, amor¬ 
phous or granular in structure; of a mottled gray colour. The 
cinder was ash coloured and opake. 

No. 2. Species. —Hydrated peroxide of iron—argillaceous. 

Description .— Colour, reddish brown ; fracture irregular— 


sectile—soils strongly. 



Specific gravity, at 64° 3.347. 



Water expelled at 3.20° 

0.89 

per cent, 

Loss by calcination, chiefly water 

10.51 


Yield in pig metal 

51.35 

(C 

Oxygen - - 

22.00 

<( 

Earthy matter - - 

15.25 

a 


100.00 

Pig metal moderately hard; structure, fine granular; colour 
lively grey. 

Cinder—a purplish, semi-transparent glass. 


No. 


3. Species .— Nearly the same as the preceding, and probably 
derived from the same bed. 


Specific gravity , at 09° 3.28G 

Water lost at 3.20° 

Loss by calcination - 
Pig iron 

Oxygen and earthy impurities 


1.00 percent 


10.13 

51.60 

37.27 


<< 

a 

u 


100 . 

Pig metal lively grey, moderately hard, and rather brittle, com¬ 
pact ; fracture smooth. 

Cinder—a purplish, smoky glass. 





\ 


( H ) 

No. 4. Species. —Argillaceous carbonate of iron, nearly hydrated 
or transformed into hydrated peroxide of iron. 

Description. — Colour, bluish grey; structure, coarse, hard; 

fracture, uneven, splintery. 

Specific gravity , at 61° 3.463 

Water lost at 320° - - 14.95 

Loss by calcination - - 9.92 

Pig iron - 51.80 

Earthy matter and oxygen - - 25.33 


100.00 

The pig metal is compact, but soft; dark mottled ; lighter portions 
ranged in minute pentagonal figures. Cinder, a black glass. 

No. 5.—Characters similar to the preceding. 

A portion of the exterior shell is sectile ; interior, hard. 


Specific gravity, at 61° 
Water lost at 320° 

Loss by calcination 
Pig metal obtained 
Earthy matter 
Oxygen 

Pig metal soft, moderately toug 
without signs of crystallization, 
glass. 


3.480 

1.69 

- 10.83 
54.15 

- 13.66 
19.63 


100 . 

; dark mottled ; fracture rough, 
Cinder, a dark coloured opake 


Tabular view of the Analyses of Iron ores of Bear Valley. 


Specimen 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Variety of ore. 

Argil. Carb. 

Hyd. ox id. 

Hyd. ox. 

Argil, carb. 

Argil, carb. 

and hyd. perox. 



and hyd. ox. 


Sp. Grav. 

3.40 

3.347 

3.286 

3.48 

3.463 


per cent. 

per cent. 

per cent. 

per cent. 

per cent. 

Loss by calcining 23.09 

11.40 

11.13 

12.52 

14.88 

Pig iron 

42.37 

51.35 

51.60 

53.05 

51.80 

Earthy matt’r, 

&c. 34.54 

37.55 

37.27 

34.43 

33.32 


The specimens above analyzed are all from near the outcrop of a 
bed, as indicated by the hydrated shell or crust on the exterior and 
are therefore richer in iron than the average of the same bed will 
be, when pursued under a sufficient covering, to yield the blue argil¬ 
laceous carbonate in its unaltered state. It will then probably range 
somewhere between 33 and 42 per cent, of metallic iron; give a 
loss of more than 30 per cent, by calcination, and contain perhaps 
25 per cent, of earthy matter. 





I 


( 15 ) 


Stock and property of the Lykens Valley Coal Company . 

The stock of the Lykens Valley Coal Company, chartered by the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, dated July 6th, 1836, consists of 
six thousand shares at fifty dollars each, the whole of the stock being 
subscribed and paid for in full. 

Additional stock to the amount of $100,000 has been authorized, 
by a supplementary act, to be created at the discretion of the presi¬ 
dent and directors. 

The company are empowered to hold 2000 acres of land and the 
necessary sites for depots. 

They are authorized to mine, transport and sell coal and other 
products of their mines, and invested with all the usual rights and 
privileges of similar corporations. 

The property* of the company consists of about 900 acres of lands 
in the coal district; a landing at Mount Patrick on the west side of 
the Susquehanna, where the coal is now delivered to the canal; a 
farm of 340 acres of land in Williams Valley, 1 £ miles above the 
mines at Bear gap, with good farm house and other buildings; three 
lots for landings at the mouth of Wiconisco creek, near Millersburg. 
On one of these lots is a wharf for shipping coal; on another stables, 
and on the third a dwelling, store, &c. 

At the mines thev have a town or village called Wiconisco, 
comprising agent’s house and store of brick, a tavern-house and 
stabling, about 8 or 10 miners’ houses, a saw mill, smith’s shop, car 
shops, school house, &c., with lateral rail roads into the mines. 


* The following’ schedule exhibits the quantity of land in each tract, together with the 
dates of the warrants and names of the warrantees. It will be seen, that with a single 
exception, the titles have all been derived directly from the commonwealth within the last 
16 years, and that the exception referred to, goes no farther back than 1789. Hence 
there can be no dispute about the titles. 


Lands of the Lykens Valley Coal Company , situated in Dauphin 

County , Pennsylvania . 


Acres. Perches. 

79 70 one undivided 5-8 of 127a. 17p. 
25 — one undivided £ of 50a. 

1 j^5 ■ .... 

196 132 . 

33 152 
299 88 . 

185 157 
131 — . 

37 34 
22 — . 

350 — Workman Farm. 


Warrants and date. 

F. Linker and others, 11 May, 1825. 
N. Snyder, 15 March, 1825. 

H. Schreiner, 7 Nov. 1825. 

Simon Gratz, 29 June, 1825. 

H. Schreiner, 21 March, 1827. 
fl. Schreiner, 3 Aug. 1825, 

H. Schreiner, 29 June, 1825, 

Jacob Albert, 13 Aug. 1789. 

Joel B. Ferce, 13 July, 1830. 

John Oundorli 22 Feb. 1828. 


1545 153 

Three lots of ground at the mouth of Wiconisco creek, each containing 80 feet front 
by 200 feet in depth. 



( 16 ) 

The actual quantity of land considerably exceeds that above 
stated, on account of the allowance always made for roads, in 
locating warrants, generally exceeding six per cent, on the quan¬ 
tity returned into the surveyor general’s office. 

The personal property of the company in horses, mules, road and 
mine cars, canal boats, &c. amounts to about $13,000. 

Annexed to this report, is the act of incorporation, together with 
its supplement, and a schedule exhibiting a general statement of the 
affairs of the Lykens’ Valley Coal Company, and another presenting 
a view of its business for the year 1840, made in compliance with 
the act of incorporation.* 


Lykens Valley Rail Road.. 

Intimately and necessarily connected with the prosperity of every 
coal region, is the means of conveying its products to market. 
To secure this for the Lykens’ Valley coal, a company was incor¬ 
porated in 1830, with a capital of $40,000, which by subsuquent acts 
has been extended to $100,000, to make a rail road from Millersburg 
to the mining district.f This road having been for several years 
in use, has become nearly worn out, owing to the lightness of the 
iron, which is in the form of flat bars placed on wooden, rails. 

To renew the superstructure, with edge, T, or trough rails, of suit¬ 
able weight, to alter the location (so as to avoid a slight ascent now 
existing on the road in the direction of the transportation,) to prepare 
the whole road in the most substantial manner for receiving the rails, 
and to cover engineering, superintendence, and contingencies, the 
superintendent of the original construction of this road, Simon Sal- 
lade, Esq., has furnished an estimate founded on his intimate know- 


* The following is a list of the present officers of the Lykens Valley Coal Company: 

Geo. H. Thomson, President. 

Samuel Richards, 

Edward Gratz, ! 

n r> itm > Directors. 

C. R. 1 homson, 

Henry Sheafer, J 

Isaac Prince, Secretary and Treasurer. 


t The following statement exhibits the original cost of the rail road, together with the 
sources from which the funds were derived for its construction: 

Cost of rail road, 154 miles, .... $69,838 02 

Means by which the road was constructed. 


Received for 2025 shares at 20 dollars, .... 40,500 

“ “ 101 “ in part,.942 

“ for loans made by Company reimbursable in 1845, 27,871 50 


$69,313 50 




( 17 ) 

ledge of the cost of materials and labour, the aggregate of which 
falls^ a little short of one hundred thousand dollars.* 

The same gentleman has also at my request furnished the follow¬ 
ing statement of the length, grade, curvatures, and other circum¬ 
stances of interest in connexion with this road: 

“ The Lykens Valley Rail Road, is 15* miles in length, from the 
mines, and 16 from the forks of Bear creek.—The grades are as 
follows: 

1. - 2 ' mile to old state road, about 5 feet 8 inches in a 100 feet. 

2. 1100 feet, 2 feet to the 100 feet y to Wiconisco creek. 

3. 3| miles a dead level. 

4. l mile at 20 feet to the mile, descent to Kunselman’s bridge. 

5. About \\ miles, a rise or ascent of 23 feet to the mile—34 feet 
in all. 

6. 1| miles a dead level to Sallade’s field. 

7. 1 mile at 18 feet to the mile—descending. 

8. 3 miles at 28 feet to the mile—descending. 

9. 4 miles at 42 feet to the mile—descending to the river. 

Curvatures. —The shortest curve is in the plane of 900 feet radius. 

In the 42 feet grade descending is a curve of 1140 feet. In the 
ascent from the mines to the river there is no curve shorter than 
1274 feet. All other curves are about 2400 feet radius.. There are 
but 7 bridges of wood 20 feet span; there are no bridges over the 
road. 

Damages are all satisfied, and the road nearly worn out. 

Yours respectfully, Simon Sallade.” 

July 16th, 1841. 

The charter of the Lykens Valley Rail Road will be found in the 
appendix to this report. One thousand and fifty-six shares of the 
stock of this company are held by the Lykens Valley Coal Com¬ 
pany, valued at $21,080. This circumstance gives the latter com¬ 
pany a preponderating influence in the concerns of the road, and 
enables it to watch with due care over its condition and manage¬ 
ment. 

In conclusion, I may be allowed to remark, that I know of no 
other anthracite coal district among the many hitherto brought into 
active operation, which combines all the advantages, possessed by 


* The items of this expense are distributed as follows, viz; 


Labour in preparing lor and laying superstructure, $27,792 
Timber for do. 7,587 20 

Iron, including rails, plates, and spikes, 58,784 

Engineering, superintendence and contingencies, 4,800 


3 


$98,963 20 



I 


( 18 ) 


that of Lykens Valley* Its abundant supplies of coal and iron ore, 
its facilities for mining, the excellence and high repute of its coal, its 
fortunate connexion with a well located rail road, and at the end of 
that, with a capacious canal terminating at tide water, and having 
the Susquehanna river for its supply, and with all the markets both 
of the south and east accessible during every month in the year from 
the city of Baltimore, where the main depots of this coal will natu¬ 
rally be made, are circumstances which cannot be overlooked by 
any one who understands the value of a coal formation, or the innu¬ 
merable purposes to which its treasures are applied. 

I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant,, 

Walter R. Johnson. 


Note, —The following are the names of the present officers of the Lykens Valley Rail 
Road Company : 


Samuel Richards, President. 


I 


Geo. H. Thomson, 
C. R. Thomson, 
Henry Sheafer, 
Simon Sallade, 
Thomas P. Cope, 
Henry Schreiner, 


► Directors.. 


John Paul, Jr. Secretary and Treasurer' 




( 19 ) 


APPENDIX. 


ACT OF INCORPORATION. 


AN ACT 

To incorporate the Lykens Valley Coal Company, in Dauphin county, 
Pennsylvania, and to authorise the opening of a road in Honesdale, 
Wayne county. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and it is 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Simon Gratz, Samuel 
Richards, Henry Sheafer, George H. Thomson, and Charles Rockland 
Thomson, and their associates, successors and assignees, be, and they are 
hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by the name and style of 
The Lykens Valley Coal Company, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania,” 
for the more convenient ownership and working of coal mines in this 
commonwealth, and the transacting the usual business of companies 
engaged in the mining, transporting and selling of coal, and the other pro¬ 
ducts of coal mines ; and the said corporation by the said name is hereby 
declared and made capable in law to sue and be sued, to plead and be im¬ 
pleaded, to have a common seal, and the same to alter and renew at pleasure ; 
to make rules and by-laws for the regulation and management of said 
corporation, consistent with the laws of this commonwealth ; and generally 
to do and execute whatever by law shall appertain to such body politic. 

Section 2. The said corporation shall have the right to hold, possess 
and enjoy, not exceeding two thousand acres of land in the counties of 
Dauphin and Perry, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and such lot 
or lots of land, not exceeding four acres in any one place, as may be found 
convenient as places of deposit, in the transportation and sale of the pro¬ 
ducts of their mines; and that the whole amount of the capital stock shall 
not exceed in value three hundred thousand dollars ; and shall be divided 
into shares of fifty dollars each share ; which capital shall be employed in 




( 20 ) 


purchasing and holding the lands aforesaid, and in constructing buildings, 
cars, wagons, vessels, boats, and such other improvements and machinery 
as may be necessary or useful for the mining and transporting ot coal, the 
product of their mines, and for the general purposes of said company.^ 
Every member of said company shall have a certificate, under the seal ot 
the corporation, made and attested in such manner and form as the by¬ 
laws shall direct, certifying his property in the share or shares owned by 
him ; and the stock of said company shall, in the nature of personal pro¬ 
perty, be assignable and transferable according to such rules as the board 
of directors shall establish ; and no stockholder indebted to the company, 
shall be permitted to make a transfer, or receive a dividend, until such 
debt is discharged, or security given for the same, to the satisfaction of 
the board of directors. 

Section 3. When the above named Simon Gratz, Samuel Richards, 
Henry Sheafer, George H. Thomson, Charles Rockland Thomson, and 
their associates, shall have subscribed the whole number of shares afore¬ 
said, and actually paid and expended not less than fifty per cent, in money 
in purchasing lands, and such other investments as are authorised by the 
second section of this act for the uses and purposes of said company, the 
Governor, on evidence thereof, shall by letters-patent, under his hand and 
seal of the state, create and erect the said Simon Gratz, Samuel Richards, 
Henry Sheafer, George H. Thomson, Charles Rockland Thomson, and 
their associates, successors and assigns, into one body politic and corpo¬ 
rate, in deed and in law, by the name, style and title of the “ Lykens 
Valley Coal Company, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.” 

Section 4. The affairs of the company shall be managed by five direc¬ 
tors, to be chosen annually, from the stockholders, by the majority of the 
votes, given either in person or by proxy ; the first election shall be held 
in the city of Philadelphia, within thirty days after letters-patent shall 
have issued, of which public notice shall be given by three or more of the 
stockholders named in the first section of this act, at least two weeks pre¬ 
vious in one or more newspapers printed in Philadelphia and Harrisburg ; 
and the subsequent elections shall be held annually at such convenient time 
and place as the directors shall appoint, of which previous public notice 
shall be given by the President of the company at least thirty days. 

Section 5. The directors, as soon as conveniently may be after their 
election, shall meet at such time and place as may be designated by a 
majority of them, and choose by ballot one of their number for President 
to serve for one year, or until superseded by a new election; they shall 
also have power to appoint other officers and agents to conduct and pro¬ 
secute the business of said company in such manner as they shall deem 
necessary and proper; at all meetings of the board three directors shall 
form a quorum to transact business; and minutes of all their proceedings 
and regular accounts of all their transactions, as well as minutes of the 
proceedings of the stockholders at each of their meetings shall be duly 
recorded in books to be kept for those purposes, and shall be exhibited for 
inspection at all meetings of the stockholders; and the said directors shall 
declare and pay annually to the stockholders, or their legal representatives, 
a dividend of such part of the net profits of said company as to them shall 
appear advisable and expedient. 


( 21 ) 

f 

Section 6. The directors aforesaid may from time to time, at any 
meeting assess upon each share of stock such sum of money not exceed¬ 
ing fifteen per cent, as shall be judged necessary for the uses and purposes 
of the company, to be paid at such lime and place and to such persons as 
said directors may authorise to receive the same ; and if after thirty days 
public notice, in one or more newspapers printed in the city of Philadel¬ 
phia, and at least one newspaper printed in Dauphin county, of the time 
and place of payment of any proportion or instalment of said capital stock, 
any stockholder shall neglect to pay his instalment, at the time appointed, 
for thirty days after the time so designated, the amount previously paid 
may be forfeited to the company, and the stock aforesaid may be sold to 
any person for such price as can be obtained for the same. 

Section 7. The said company shall make an annual report, under oath 
of the President, to the legislature, and as soon as they shall have made a 
dividend exceeding fifteen per cent., shall pay an annual tax of eight per 
<cent. on all dividends made above that amount. 

Section 8. The legislature reserves the right to revoke, alter or amend 
the charter hereby granted, at any time hereafter. And provided, That 
nothing herein contained shall be construed as in any way giving to the 
said company any banking or trading privileges, or any other privileges 
but such as are provided by the first section of this act. 

Section 9. This act may continue in force for the term of fifteen years 
from the passage thereof, and no longer, unless the same be sooner repealed 
in pursuance of the eighth section of this act. 

Section 10. That the recorder of deeds for the city and county of 
Philadelphia be, and he is hereby authorised and required to cause to be 
made, fair transcripts of all indexes of deeds or mortgages in his said 
office which may be required to be transcribed, and to complete, as soon 
as possible, the indexes in arrear in his office ; the expense thereof to be 
paid by warrants drawn by the county commissioners ; and for the pur¬ 
pose of making the said copies, the said recorder shall have full power to 
employ and at pleasure dismiss such additional clerks as may have been 
employed or as he may deem expedient to employ. 

Section 11. That for every search hereafter to be made by the said 
recorder of deeds, he shall be entitled to receive, if the same extends 
beyond ten years, twenty-five cents, and twenty-five cents for every ten 
years beyond twenty years. 

Section 12. That the select and common councils of the city of Pitts¬ 
burg shall have power in determining the location of a street, to be called 
Duquesne Way, authorised to be located and opened in the said city, by 
the act to which this is a supplement, to alter the course of the same for 
the distance contained between the eastern boundary line of the said city 
and the bridge erected at the end of St. Clair street, in such manner as 
they shall deem most conducive to the interests of said city. 

Section 13. That the public road leading from Cherry Ridge to the 
borough of Honesdale, from its present termination at the line of said 
borough to the main street or road near Mrs. Steward’s house, is hereby 
declared a public highway. 

Section 14. If the borough authorities of Honesdale shall neglect or 
refuse to open the said road within six months from the passage of this 


( 22 ) 

•act, then and in that case it shall and may be lawful for the supervisors 
of Dy berry township to open the said road ; the expense of which shall be 
recovered of the burgess and council of Honesdale, as sums of like amount 
are now by law recoverable. 

Section 15 . That the treasurer of the commonwealth be and he is 
hereby authorised, to pay to Albert I. Kelso, or his order, ninety-seven 
dollars and eighty-five cents, money overpaid by said Kelso in patenting 
outlots, numbers four hundred and fourteen, and five hundred and fifteen, 
adjoining the town of Erie.* 

Ner Middleswartii, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Thomas S. Cunningham, 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved the third day of June, anno domini one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-six. 

Jos. Ritner. 

Secretary’s Office, Harrisburg. 

I, Francis R. Shunk, Secretary of state in and for the 
commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do certify that the 
above and foregoing is a true and exact copy of “ An 
[ l. s. ] act to incorporate the Lykens Valley Coal Company, 
in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and to authorise the 
opening of a road in Honesdale, Wayne county,” of 
the original act as the same remains filed in this office. 

Witness my hand and the seal of the said office at Harrisburg, this first 
day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-nine, and of the commonwealth the sixty-third. 

Fr. R. Shunk, 

Secretary Comm’lth. 


* It will be perceived that from the 10th section to the end, this act has relation to 
^subjects in no way connected with the Lykens Valley Coal Company. 


i 


( 23 ) 


SUPPLEMENTARY ACT.. 


AN ACT 

Supplementary to an act entitled “ An act authorising the Governor to 
incorporate the Meadville and Titusville Turnpike Road Company, and. 
for other purposes.” 

Section 7. That it shall be lawful for the president and directors of 
the Lykens Valley Coal Company, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, at 
any time when they may deem the same expedient, to enlarge the capital 
stock of said company, by the sale of any number not exceeding two 
thousand shares, at the par value of fifty dollars each share, in addition 
to the stock which the said company are now entitled to hold. And it 
shall also be lawful for them, from time to time, as they may deem the 
same necessary, to borrow money for the purposes of the company, for 
such periods of time and on such terms as they may deem expedient, with 
authority to sell, mortgage or otherwise dispose of their estate, real, per¬ 
sonal and mixed. 

Lewis Dewart, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Charles B. Penrose. 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved, the thirteenth day of April, one thousand eight and thirty- 
eight. 

Jos. Ritner. 

PENNSYLVANIA, ss. Secretary’s Office. 

I, Francis R. Shunk, secretary of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, do certify that the within is a true copy of the seventh 
section of an act entitled “ An act supplementary to an act entitled an 
act authorizing the governor to incorporate the Meadville and Titusville 
Turnpike Road Company and for other purposes,” passed the thirteenth 
day of April, a. n. 1838, of the original, as it remains on file among the 
records of the said office ; being the only section in said act having any 
relation to the “ Lykens Valley Coal Company.” 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed the seal of the said office at Harrisburg. 

L. s. ] this first day of March in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, and of the 
commonwealth the sixty-third. 

F r . R. Siiunk, 

Sec’y Com. 



( 24 ) 


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( 20 ) 


ACT OF INCORPORATION. 


AN ACT 

To incorporate the Lykens Valley Rail Road Company, in Dauphin 

County. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in general assembly met, and it is 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Henry Shriner, Henry 
Sheaffer, Simon Sallade, James Buchanan, Samuel France, Daniel L. N. 
Reutter, of Dauphin county, Simon Gratz and John Barber, of Columbia, 
Lancaster county, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to 
do and perform the several things hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, 
they shall on or before the first day of December next, procure a sufficient 
number of books, and open the same at such times and places as the said 
commissioners or a majority of them may direct; in each of which said 
books they shall enter as follows: “ We whose names are hereunto sub¬ 
scribed, do promise to pay to the President and Managers of the Lykens 
Valley Rail Road and Coal Company, the sum of twenty dollars for every 
share of stock set opposite our respective names, in such manner and pro¬ 
portions, and at such times, as shall be determined by the President and 
Managers of the said company, in pursuance of an act of the general 
assembly of this commonwealth, entitled “ An act to incorporate the 
Lykens Valley Rail Road and Coal Company.” Witness our hands the 
day of in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 

and and shall thereupon give notice in one or more papers printed 

in the county of Dauphin, and in one or more papers printed in the city 
of Philadelphia, twenty days at least, of the times and places when and 
where the said books shall be kept open and receive subscriptions for the 
stock of the said company, at which respective times and places one or 
more of the commissioners shall attend, and permit all persons of lawful 
age who shall offer to subscribe in the said books, in their own names or 
in the names of any other person who shall authorise the same, for shares 
in the said stock, and the said books shall be kept open respectively for the 
said purpose at least six hours in every juridicial day, for the space of four 
days, or until there shall have been subscribed one thousand shares ; and 
if at the expiration of six days, the books aforesaid shall not have the 
number of shares aforesaid therein subscribed, the said commissioners 
may adjourn from time to time, and transfer the book or books elsewhere, 
until the whole number of two thousand shares shall be subscribed ; of 
which adjournments and transfers the commissioners aforesaid shall give 
such public notice as the occasion may require; and when the whole num¬ 
ber of shares shall be subscribed, then the books shall be closed: Pro¬ 
vided , That no person be permitted to subscribe for more than five shares 
on the first day, and not more than five shares on the second day; after 
which any person may subscribe for any number of shares, until the 
whole of the stock be taken. 



( 27 ) 

Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
when five hundred shares or more of the stock shall be subscribed, and the 
sum of five dollars paid on each and every share, the commissioners, or a 
majority of them, may certify to the Governor under their hands and 
seals, the names of the subscribers and the number of shares subscribed 
by each ; whereupon the Governor shall by letters-patent under his hand 
and seal of the commonwealth, create and erect the subscribers, and if the 
subscription be not full at the time, then also those who shall thereafter 
subscribe, to the number of shares as aforesaid, into a body politic and 
corporate in deed and in law, by the name, style and title of the “ Lykens 
Valley Rail Road and Coal Companyand by the same name the sub¬ 
scribers shall have perpetual succession, and be able to sue and be sued, 
plead and be impleaded, in all courts of record and elsewhere ; and to pur¬ 
chase, receive, have, hold, and enjoy to them and their successors, lands, 
tenements, and hereditaments, goods, chattels, and all estate, real, personal 
or mixed, of what kind or quality soever; and the same from time to time 
to sell, mortgage, grant, alienor dispose of; and to make dividends of such 
portions of the profits as they may deem proper, and also to make and 
have a common seal, and the same to alter or renew at pleasure; and also 
to ordain, establish and put in execution such by-laws, ordinances and 
regulations as shall appear necessary and convenient for the government 
of the said corporation, not being contrary to the constitution and laws of 
the United States or of this commonwealth ; and generally to do all and 
singular the matters and things which to them it shall lawfully appertain 
to do for the well being of the said corporation, and the due management 
and ordering the affairs of the same : Frovided , Nothing herein contained 
shall be considered as in any way giving to the said corporation any 
mining, trading or banking privileges whatsoever, or any other liberties, 
privileges or franchises, but such as may be necessary or incident to the 
making of the said rail road : Provided further , That the said company 
shall at no time hold or possess any coal land, for the purpose of carrying 
on the coal trade. 

Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the said named persons or a majority of them, shall as soon as conveni¬ 
ently may be after the said letters-patent shall be obtained, give at least 
twenty days previous notice in the newspapers hereinbefore mentioned, of 
the time and place by them appointed for the subscribers to meet in order 
to organize the said company, and to choose by a majority of votes of the 
said subscribers, by ballot, to be given in person or by proxy, which proxy 
shall have been obtained and bear date within three months previously to 
the election at which such proxy shall be presented, duly authorised, one 
president and seven managers, all of whom shall be residents of this com¬ 
monwealth, a treasurer and secretary, and such other officers as shall be 
deemed necessary : that the president and managers aforesaid shall con¬ 
duct the business of said company until the first Monday of December then 
next, and until like officers shall be chosen ; and may make such by-laws, 
rules, orders and regulations as are not inconsistent with the constitution 
and laws of the United States, or of this state, and that may be necessary 
for the well governing the affairs of the company. 

Section 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the stockholders shall meet on the first Monday in May in every year, at 


( 28 ) 


such place as may be fixed upon by the by-laws, of which notice shall be 
given at least twenty days by the secretary, in the newspapers before 
mentioned, and choose by a majority of votes present their officers for the 
ensuing year, as mentioned in the third section of this act; who shall con¬ 
tinue in office for one year, and until others are chosen; and at such other 
times as they may be summoned by the managers, in such manner and 
form as shall be prescribed by the by-laws; at which annual or special 
meeting they shall have full power and authority to make, alter or repeal, 
by a majority of the votes, in manner aforesaid, all such by-laws, rules, 
orders, and regulations as aforesaid, and to do and perform every other 
corporate act; and the number of votes to which each stockholder shall 
be entitled, shall be according to the number of shares he or she shall 
hold, in the proportions following, that is to say : for each share, not 
exceeding two shares, two votes; for every two shares above two and not 
exceeding ten shares one vote; for every four shares above ten and not 
exceeding thirty, one vote; for every ten shares above thirty and not 
exceeding one hundred, one vote ; but no share or number of shares above 
one hundred as aforesaid, shall confer any additional right of voting, and 
no share shall confer a right of suffrage which shall not have been holden 
three calender months prior to the day of election, nor unless it be holden 
by the person in whose name it appears, absolutely and bona fide, in his 
own right, or as executor or administrator, trustee or guardian, or in the 
right or for the use and benefit of some copartnership, corporation or 
society of which he or she may be a member, and not in trust for and to 
the use and benefit of any other person : Provided , That no shares held 
by transfer shall be entitled to votes unless the same shall have been trans¬ 
ferred at least three months before the election ; and all votes by proxy 
shall be on such terms and conditions as are prescribed by this act. 

Section 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the election for officers provided for in the fourth section of this act, shall 
be conducted in the following manner; that is to say : the managers for 
the time being shall appoint two of the stockholders not being managers, 
to be judges of the said election, and to conduct the same after having 
severally sworn and subscribed an oath or affirmation, before an alderman 
or justice of the peace, well and truly and according to law to conduct said 
election, to the best of their knowledge and abilities ; and the said judges 
shall decide upon the qualifications of the voters ; and when the election is 
closed, shall count the votes and declare who has been elected ; and if it 
shall at any time happen that an election of president, managers, trea¬ 
surer, secretary or other officers shall not be made, the corporation shall 
not for that cause be deemed to be dissolved, but it shall be lawful to hold 
and make such election of president, managers, treasurer, secretary or 
other officer on the same day, or at any other day thereafter, by giving 
at least ten days notice, signed by the president or secretary, in the news¬ 
papers before mentioned, of the time and place of holding said election; 
and the president, managers, treasurer, secretary, and other officers of the 
preceding year shall in that case continue to act, and be invested with all 
the powers belonging to their respective situations, until an election shall 
take place. In the case of death, resignation, or removal from the state 
of any president, manager, treasurer, secretary, or other officer, his place 
shall be filled by the board of managers until the next annual election. 


( 29 ) 


Section 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
said president and managers shall meet at such times and places as shall 
be found most convenient for the transacting of their business ; and when 
met four shall be a quorum, who, in the absence of the president, may 
choose a chairman, and shall keep minutes of their transactions fairly 
entered in a book ; and a quorum being formed, they shall have full power 
and authority to appoint all such surveyors, engineers, superintendents, 
and other artists and officers as they shall deem necessary to carry on the 
intended work, and to fix their salaries and wages, to ascertain the times, 
manner and proportions in which the said stockholders shall pay the 
moneys due on the respective shares; to draw orders on the treasurer for 
money, which shall be signed by the president, or in his absence by a 
majority of the managers present, and countersigned by the secretary ; and 
generally to do all such other acts, matters and things as by this act and 
by the by-laws and regulations of the company they are authorised to do. 

Section 7. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the president and managers first chosen shall procure certificates or evi¬ 
dence of stock, for all the shares of the said company, and shall deliver 
one such certificate, signed by the president, and countersigned by the 
treasurer and sealed with the common seal of the said corporation, to each 
person, for every share by him subscribed and held, which certificate or 
evidence of stock shall be transferable at his pleasure, in person or by 
attorney, duly authorised, in the presence of the president, who shall keep 
a book for that purpose, subject however to all payments due or to become 
due thereon ; and the assignee holding any certificate having first caused 
the assignment to be entered in a book of the company to be kept for the 
transfer of stock, shall be a member of the said corporation, and for every 
certificate assigned to him as aforesaid, shall be entitled to one share of 
the capital stock, of all the estates and emoluments of the company inci¬ 
dent to one share, and to vote as aforesaid at the meeting thereof, and 
subject to all penalties and forfeitures, and of being sued for all the balance 
and penalty^due or to become due on each share, as the original subscri¬ 
ber would have been. 

Section 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
if after thirty days notice in the public papers aforesaid, of the time and 
place appointed for the payment of any proportion or instalment of the said 
capital stock, in order to carry on the work, any stockholder shall neglect 
to pay such proportion or instalment at the place appointed for the space 
of thirty days after the time so appointed, every such stockholder or his 
assignee shall, in addition to the instalment so called for, pay at the rate 
of two per centum per month for the delay of such payment; and if the 
same and additional penalty shall remain unpaid for such space of time, as 
that the accumulated penalty shall become equal to the sums before paid 
in part and on account of such shares, the same shall be forfeited to the 
said company, and may be sold to any person or persons willing to pur¬ 
chase, for such price as can be obtained for the same ; or in default of 
payment by any stockholder, of any such instalment as aforesaid, the pre¬ 
sident and managers may at their election cause suit to be brought before 
an alderman or justice of the peace, or in any court having competent 
jurisdiction, for the recovery of the same, together with the penalty afore¬ 
said : Provided , That no stockholder, whether original subscriber or 


( 30 ) 


assignee, shall be entitled to vote at any election, or at any general or 
special meeting of the said company, on whose share or shares any instal¬ 
ment or arrearages may be due and payable more than thirty days pre¬ 
viously to the said election or meeting. 

Section 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the president and managers of the said company shall demand and require 
of and from the treasurer and all and every other the officers and other 
persons by them employed, bond in sufficient penalties, and with such 
securities, as they shall by their rules, orders and regulations require, for 
the faithful discharge of the several duties and trusts to them, or any of 
them, respectively committed. 

Section 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
dividends of so much of the profits of the institution as shall appear advisa¬ 
ble to the directors, shall be declared at least twice a year in every year, 
and paid to the stockholders on demand at any time after the expiration of 
ten days therefrom, but they shall in no case exceed the amounts of the 
net profits actually required by the company, so that the capital stock 
shall never be thereby impaired ; if the said directors shall make any 
dividend which shall impair the capital stock of said institution, the direc¬ 
tors consenting thereto shall be liable in their individual capacities to said 
company for the amount of the stock so divided ; and each director pre¬ 
sent when such dividends shall be declared, shall be adjudged to be con¬ 
senting thereto, unless he forthwith enter his protest in the minutes of the 
board ; and give public notice to the stockholders at the declaring of such 
dividend; Provided , No dividend shall exceed twelve per centum per 
annum. 

Section 11. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
at the end of the third year after the date of this incorporation, and at the 
end of every year thereafter, there shall be furnished to the legislature an 
abstract of the accounts of the company, showing the whole amount of 
their capital actually paid into the funds of the company, and the amount 
of dividend declared in each year, or the losses sustained, as the case may 
be ; which abstract shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the pre¬ 
sident of the company for the time being. 

Section 12. . And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the president, directors and company of the said rail road and coal com¬ 
pany, shall have power to survey, lay down, ascertain, mark and fix such 
route as they shall deem expedient for a single or double track rail road, 
beginning at some point near Millersburg, Dauphin county, to some point 
on the Short Mountain, in said county, having due regard to the situation 
and nature of the ground, and of the buildings thereon, the public conveni¬ 
ence and the interest of the stockholders, and so as to do the least damage 
to private property; and the said road shall not be more than five rods 
wide; and shall not pass through any burying ground, nor place of public 
worship, nor any dwelling-house, without the consent of the owner thereof; 
nor shall it pass through any out buildings, of the value of three hundred 
dollars, without such consent: Provided , That the said rail road shall be 
made single or double, so as to accommodate the trade ascending as well 
as descending the same. 

Section 13. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
it shall be lawful for the president, directors and company of the said rail 


( 31 ) 

road and coal company, and their agents, and all persons employed by or 
under them, for the purpose contemplated by this act, to enter upon any 
land which they may deem necessary for laying out said road; and also 
for the purpose of searching for stone and gravel, or wood, for constructing 
said road ; but no stone, gravel, sand or wood, shall be taken away from 
any seated land without the consent of the owner thereof, until the rate of 
compensation for the same be ascertained and paid ; which rate of compen¬ 
sation, if the parties cannot agree thereon, shall be ascertained in the man¬ 
ner hereinafter prescribed, as to the compensation for lands over which 
said road may be laid. 

Section 14. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
it shall and may be lawful for the company hereby incorporated, to make, 
erect, dig, excavate, and establish a single or double rail road as aforesaid ; 
and said company are hereby empowered to make, erect and establish all 
works, edifices and devices to such rail road, as may by the said company 
be deemed expedient for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of 
their incorporation ; and also to contract and agree with the owner or 
owners for the purchase of any lands or tenements which may be neces¬ 
sary for the purpose of erecting the said rail road. 

Section 15. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
whenever it shall be necessary for the president, directors and company 
of the said rail road company to enter in and upon and occupy for the pur¬ 
pose of making said rail road, any land upon which the same may be 
located, if the owner or owners of the said land shall refuse to permit such 
entry and occupation, and the parties cannot agree upon the compensation 
to be made for an injury or supposed injury that may be done to said land, 
by such entry and occupation, it shall and may be lawful for the parties to 
appoint five suitable and disinterested persons to estimate such damages, 
who shall be under oath or affirmation fairly and impartially to estimate 
the same, and shall reside within the proper county where the land lies ; 
and the expenses incurred by the said appraisers shall be defrayed by the 
said coal and rail road company ; but if the parties cannot agree upon such 
persons, or if the persons so chosen shall not decide upon the matter; or if 
the owner or owners of such land shall refuse or neglect to join in such 
appointment within twenty days after requisition for that purpose upon 
him, her or them made ; or if such owner or owners shall be feme covert, 
under age, non compos mentis, out of the state or unknown, then it shall 
be lawful for the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the land 
lies, on application of either party, and at the cost and charge of the said 
corporation, to appoint five disinterested persons, men of said county, to 
view, examine and survey the said lands, tenements or hereditaments, and 
estimate the injury or damage, if any, that in their apprehension will be 
sustained as aforesaid by reason of said coal and rail road, and report the 
same under their oaths or affirmations to the said court; which report being 
confirmed by the said court, judgment shall be entered thereon; and the 
viewers shall be entitled to like fees for their services as are allowed by 
law to reviewers of public roads and highways, to be paid by said com¬ 
pany ; and it shall be the duty of the said appraisers, in estimating such 
injury or damage, to take into consideration the advantages that will be 
derived to the owner or owners of the said lands from the said rail road: 
Provided , That either party may appeal to the court within thirty days 


( 32 ) 


after such report may have been filed in the prothonotary’s office of the 
proper county, in the same manner as appeals are allowed by the provi¬ 
sions of the arbitration act of one thousand eight hundred and ten ; and 
upon the coming in of such report and the confirmation thereof, or upon 
final judgment on appeal therefrom, and the said company paying to such 
owner the sum in such report or judgment specified, in full compensation 
for said lands, or for the injury sustained as aforesaid, the said company 
shall become seized of the same estate in the said lands which the owner 
held in the same ; and they and all who act under them shall be acquitted 
and free from all responsibility for and on account of such injury: Pro¬ 
vided , That the payment of damages aforesaid for land through which 
the said road may be laid, shall be made before the said company, or any 
person under their direction, or in their employ, shall be authorised to 
enter upon and break ground in the premises, except for the purposes of 
surveying and laying out said road, unless the consent of the owner of 
such land be first obtained. 

Section 16. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the said rail road shall be so constructed by the said company as not to 
obstruct or impede the free use and passage of any public road or public 
roads which may cross or enter at the same, being now laid out or here¬ 
after to be laid out; and in all places where the said rail road may cross, 
or in any way interfere with any public road, it shall be the duty of the 
said company to make, or cause to be made, a good and sufficient cause¬ 
way or causeways to enable all persons passing or travelling such public 
road to cross and pass over or under the said rail way ; which causeway 
or causeways shall be made and maintained by the said company; and if 
the said company shall refuse or neglect to make such causeway or cause¬ 
ways, or when made to keep the same in good repair, they shall be liable 
to pay a penalty of ten dollars for every day the same shall be neglected 
or refused to be made or repaired ; to be recovered by the supervisor of 
the township, with costs, for the use of the township, as debts of like 
amount are by law recoverable, and shall moreover be liable to an action 
or actions at the suit of any person who may be aggrieved thereby; and 
the service of process upon any officer or agent of said company shall be 
as good and available in law as if served upon the president thereof. 

Section 17. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
for the accommodation of all persons owning or possessing land through 
which the said rail road may or shall pass, and to prevent inconveniences 
to such persons in crossing or passing the same, it shall be the duty of the 
said company when required, to make or cause to be made a good and 
sufficient causeway or causeways, wherever the same may be necesary, to 
enable the occupant or occupants of said lands to cross or pass over or 
under the same, with wagons, carts, and implements of husbandry as occa¬ 
sion may require : Provided , That the said company shall in no case be 
required to make or cause to be made more than one such causeway 
through each plantation or lot of land for the accommodation of any one 
person owning or possessing land through which the said rail road may or 
shall pass ; and when any public road shall cross said road, the person own¬ 
ing or possessing land through which the said road shall pass, shall not 
be entitled to make such requisition on said company; and the causeway 
or causeways when so made shall be maintained and kept in repair by said 


( 33 ) 


company ; and if said company shall refuse or neglect to make such cause¬ 
way or causeways, or, when made to keep the same in good repair, the 
said company shall be liable to pay any . person aggrieved thereby, all 
damages sustained by such person in consequence of such refusal or 
neglect, to be sued for and recovered before any magistrate, or any court 
having cognisance thereof; and the service of process upon any officer or 
agent of said company, shall be as good and available in law as if served 
upon the president thereof. 

Section 18. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
no suit or action shall be brought or prosecuted by any person or persons 
for penalties incurred under this act, unless said suit or action shall be 
commenced within six months next after the offence shall have been 
committed, or the cause of action shall have accrued ; and the defendant 
or defendants in such suit or actions may plead the general issue, and give 
this act and the special matter in evidence, and that the same was done in 
pursuance and bv authority of this act. 

Section 19. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the company shall not prevent any person or persons from making such 
lateral rail roads, and to connect them with said rail road, as the said 
person or persons may conceive necessary for the purpose of transporting 
their coal or produce down or up the said road, they paying the usual tolls 
to the said company. 

Section 20. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
on the completion of the said rail road, the same shall be esteemed a pub¬ 
lic highway, free for the transportation of all commodities; and the said 
company may charge and receive tolls and for freights on and for the 
transportation of goods, wares and merchandise, at the following rates ; 
that is to say : on each ton of coal, one and a half per cent, per mile ; on 
each ton of salt, gypsum and lime, one and a half per cent, per mile; on 
brick, lumber, squared and round, per one hundred feet solid, two cents 
per mile ; on boards, plank, scantling, or other sawed stuff, reduced to inch 
stuff, one cent per one thousand feet per mile ; on shingles per thousand, 
one cent per mile ; on staves and heading for pipes and hogsheads, per 
mile, two cents per thousand ; and staves and heading for barrels and 
other vessels of less size, one cent per mile, per thousand ; on all other 
articles not enumerated, two cents per ton per mile; on all single and 
detached articles weighing less than a ton, it shall be lawful to charge and 
receive on the transports thereof, an advance of twenty per centum on the 
rates as above established : Provided , That if at any time hereafter the 
tolls should not enable the company, after paying all repairs and other 
necessary expenses, to divide more than six per centum per annum on the 
capital stock expended, then and in such case the tolls may be increased 
by the said company, so that the dividend shall not exceed ten per centum 
per annum : And provided also , That whenever the aforesaid tolls shall 
exceed twelve per centum per annum, on the capital expended, they shall 
be reduced so as not to exceed that amount : Provided also , That every 
person or persons using the said road shall only use those carriages, and 
wagons, and conveyances which shall be adapted thereto ; which said 
carriages, wagons, and conveyances to be used thereon for the transporta¬ 
tion of persons or commodities, shall be prescribed by the said company. 

Section 21. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 


5 


/ 


( 34 ) 

if any person or persons shall wilfully and knowingly break, injure, or 
destroy the rail road, or any part thereof, or any work, edifice, or device, 
or any part thereof, to be erected by the said company in pursuance of 
this act, he, she or they shall forfeit and pay to the said company, three 
times the actual damages so sustained, to be sued for and recovered, with 
costs of suit, in any court having cognisance thereof, by action of debt, in 
the name and for the use of the said company. 

Section 22. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
if the president, managers and company shall not proceed to carry on said 
work within two years from passage of this act, and shall not complete 
the same as aforesaid, in seven years, according to the true intent and 
meaning of this act, or if after the completion of the said road, the said 
corporation shall suffer the same to go to decay and be impassable for the 
term of two years, then this charter shall become null and void, except so 
far as compels said company to make reparation for damages. 

Section 23. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
if any increase of the capital stock be deemed necessary by the stock¬ 
holders to complete the said rail road, it may be lawful for the said presi¬ 
dent, managers and company, at a stated or special meeting convened for 
the purpose, to increase the number of shares, so that the capital of said 
company shall not exceed forty thousand dollars, and to receive and 
demand the moneys for shares so subscribed in like manner and under like 
penalties as are hereinbefore provided for the original subscription, or as 
shall be provided for by their by-laws. 

Fred’k Smith, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Wm. G. Hawkins, 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved the seventh day of April, a. d. one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty. 

Geo. Wolf. 

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, ss. Secretary’s Office. 

I do certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy 
of the original act entitled “ An act to incorporate the Lykens Valley 
Rail Road Company, in Dauphin county,” passed the seventh day of April, 
a. d. one thousand eight hundred and thirty, as the same remains on file 
amongst the records of this office. 

Witness my hand and seal of the office of Secretary of 
State, at Harrisburg, this second day of March, in the 
[ L. s. ] year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-nine, and of the commonwealth the sixty-third. 

Fr. R. Shunk, 

Secretary Comm’lth. 


( 35 ) 


SUPPLEMENTARY ACT. 


A supplement to an act entitled “ An act incorporating the Lykens Valley 
Rail-road Company in Dauphin couuty,” passed on the seventh day of 
April eighteen hundred and thirty, and for other purposes. 

Section I.—Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the number of votes 
to which each stockholder owning two shares of stock in said company 
shall be entitled, shall be one vote for each share. 

Section II.—And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the rates of tolls for the transportation on said rail-road, on coal, 
salt, gypsum and lime shall be one and one-half cents per mile for each 
ton thereof. 

Section III.—And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the president, managers and company, at a stated and special meet¬ 
ing convened for the purpose, may increase the number of shares so that 
the capital of the said company shall not exceed sixty-five thousand dol¬ 
lars ,* and to demand and receive the moneys so subscribed in like manner 
and under like penalties as are provided for the original subscribers, or as 
shall be provided by their by-laws; and that the president of the said 
company for the time being shall procure certificates or evidences of stock 
for the shares of the said company, and shall deliver such certificates or 
evidences signed by him, and countersigned by the treasurer, and sealed 
with the common seal of said corporation, to each and every stockholder 
in one or more certificates for the number of shares held by such stock¬ 
holder on application therefor. 

Approved the thirtieth day of March, Anno Domini, eighteen hundred 
and thirty-three. 

Geo. Wolf. 

PENNSYLVANIA, ss. Secretary’s Office. 

I, Francis R. Shunk, secretary of state in and for the 
commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do certify that the within and foregoing 
is a true copy of the first, second and third sections of a “ Supplement to 
an act entitled « An act incorporating the Lykens Valley Rail-road Com¬ 
pany in Dauphin county,”’ passed on the seventh day of April, eighteen 
hundred and thirty, and for other purposes, as remaining on file in the 
said office; being the only sections contained in said act having relation 
said company. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and caused the seal of the said office to be affixed, 
L. s. ] at Harrisburg, this twenty-eighth day of February 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-nine, and of the commonwealth the sixty- 
third. 


Fit. R. Shunk, Sec'y Com. 




FURTHER SUPPLEMENT. 


A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled “An act incorporating the Lykens Valley Rail-road 
Company in Dauphin county,” passed on the seventh day of April in 
the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvnnia in General Assembly met, and it 
is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall be lawful for 
the stockholders of the Lykens Valley Rail-road and Coal Company, at 
any meeting summoned by the managers thereof, to authorise the presi¬ 
dent and managers to increase the capital stock of said company to any 
amount not exceeding in the whole the sum of four hundred thousand 
dollars, whereupon the said president and managers may increase the said 
capital stock accordingly, and sell and dispose of the new stock at their 
discretion, and issue certificates therefor in the usual form. 

Section 2. It shall be lawful for the president and managers of the 
said company, from time to time and at all times, to borrow such sums of 
money and on such terms as they may deem expedient, for the use of said 
company, and to issue certificates of loan therefor, and to pledge and 
mortgage all or any part of the estates, tolls, rail-road improvements, pri¬ 
vileges, effects, and assets, whatsoever of the said company for the repay¬ 
ment of said sums of money so borrowed, at such times as may be agreed 
on, and for the punctual payment of interest for the same. 

Wm. Hopkins, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Charles B. Penrose, 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved this thirteenth day of March, Anno Domini, eighteen hundred 
and thirty-nine. 

David R. Porter. 

PENNSYLVANIA, ss. Secretary’s Office. 

I do certify that the above and foregoing act of the 
general assembly, entitled “ A further supplement to an act entitled ‘ An 
act incorporating the Lykens Valley Rail-road Company in Dauphin 
county,’ ” passed on the seventh day of April in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty; which was approved the thirteenth day of 
March, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, is a 
true copy of the original on file in this office. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed the seal of the office of secretary of state, 
at Harrisburg, the thirteenth day of March, in the 
l. s. ] year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-nine, and of the commonwealth the sixty-third. 

II. Petriken, 

Deputy Secretary of the Comm’th. 



REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS 


OF THE 



DEEP RIVER 


MINING AND TRANSPORTATION 

COMPANY. 


ALBANY, MARCH, 1851. 




ALBANY. 

WEB®, PARSONS AND COMPANY. 

1851 . 





Ii . r-’|; . ; ■ v • „ ' 












ft '' 









. 


#* J 





• ' * - ' ’ ■ . ' 














DIRECTORS. 


JOHN TAYLOR, ) 

EDWARD B. WESLY, } Directors. 
H. B. HEWITT, ) 


JOHN E. WILLIAMS, 
JOHN C. BEACH, 


New- York. 


JOHN TAYLOR, President. 
H. B. HEWITT, Secretary. 
































■ 
















REPORT 


The Directors of the Deep River Mining and Trans¬ 
portation Company, in presenting to the Stockholders the 
very interesting and able report of Professor Johnson, feel it 
incumbent on them to enter into a detailed statement of the 
economical value of their possessions; a subject which did 
not fall within the province of the learned Professor particularly 
to examine. The value of a coal mine depends upon the 
quality of the coal; its quantity , the cheapness with which 
it can be mined , and the facility and cost of transportation 
to market. All these ingredients must combine to render a 
coal field valuable. The separate, independent existence of 
one or two of these, is not enough. If the coal is of inferior 
quality , or comparatively worthless, when brought into mar¬ 
ket, no one would think of expending capital upon it. If the 
quantity is insufficient, it would not be worth the undertaking. 
If the expenses of mining are too great, prudent men would 
not embark in such an enterprise ; and if the cost of trans¬ 
portation to market is so great as to absorb all the profits, such 
an undertaking, if rashly engaged in, must of necessity, soon 
be abandoned. The questions then which occur are, what is 
the quality of the coal, what its quantity —at what expense 
can it be mined and transported to market. And first, as to 
its quality. The Report of Professor Johnson, than whom 
there is no higher authority, places the coal of Farmersville 
in the first rank of bituminous coals. “ It has, says the Re¬ 
port, upwards of eighty per cent of carbon } and evaporates 8.10 
of steam to one of coal,” which proves its admirable adaption 



30 


for steam purposes.” It possesses the advantage of brisk 
and brilliant combustion , which renders it a most desirable 
fuel for parlor grates , and is an excellent coal for smith's 
purposes. It takes fire promptly, swells sufficiently, and ag¬ 
glutinates its masses together so as to form a hollow fire.” 

u The amount of sulphur is not such as to prevent its 
usefulness in this application ; or to interfere with its pre¬ 
servation either on ship board or on shore.” 

The freedom from any considerable or dangerous amount 
of sulphur in this coal, always considered of the highest 
importance, has become doubly so, in view of the recent di¬ 
sasters which have occurred to one English and three Ameri¬ 
can ships, which have taken fire and burnt in their attempts 
to reach the Pacific coast. The English ship was loaded 
with English coal; the American ships, with coal from the 
Cumberland mines. 

Now when it is considered that the Richmond, the Pictou, 
and the Sydney coals, have always been supposed to contain 
large quantities of sulphur, so as to render the use of these 
coals dangerous on long voyages, it becomes apparent that 
such a coal as that at Farmersville, will be sought for as the 
best of all others , if it is not the only safe coal fit for long 
voyages. 

As to its quantity. The coal bed is reported by the Pro¬ 
fessor, as being seven feet eight inches thick, with an inter¬ 
posing ply of slate eighteen inches, leaving six feet two inches 
of pure coal, and covering an area , already discovered , of 
about 300 acres. This bed of coal, as the Professor justly 
remarks, is equal in thickness to the great Pittsburgh seam; 
not inferior to the main seam at New Castle , and of the same 
thickness as the bed long worked at Sydney, Cape Breton. 
This ply of slate, on first penetrating the outcrop, was twenty- 
six inches thick, but gradually diminished when the Professor 
left, to eighteen inches. Since then the vein has been pene¬ 
trated several feet further, in all eighteen feet, and the ply of 
slate has diminished to fourteen inches, with every prospect 
of soon running out; while the vein has increased to nine 
feet in thickness. 

This Company then may count upon a bed of the best bi¬ 
tuminous coal three feet thicker than the Sydney bed, or the 


[31 

•great Pittsburgh seam, or the main seam at New Cas¬ 
tle ; enough in quantity to satisfy the cupidity of most 
men. The questions of quality and quantity , we trust are 
answered to the entire satisfaction of every Stockholder. 

The next question is as to the cost of mining, which has 
been stated not to exceed 45 cents ; and when the ply of the 
slate has ceased, will be 15 cents less. This calculation of 
45 cents is the extreme limit, as based upon a vein six feet 
two inches. A vein of nine feet can be mined at a less pro ¬ 
portionate expense, than a vein of six feet. 

But we will take the cost of mining at 45 cents per ton; 
add 15 cents for delivery into barges, and the cost of the 
coal on board of the barges is 60 cents. 

The remaining question is, what will be the expense of 
transportation to Wilmington or Smithville, at the mouth of 
the Cape Fear river ? We take the longest distance when 
we state the expense at 23 cents; and we have the entire 
cost of mining and transportation to Smithville at 83 cents. 

Your Directors believe it can be done for 25 per cent less 
than this statement, but when they consider the rates at 
which other coals are mined, and transported to tidewater, they 
are prepared to encounter a great deal of public incredulity on 
this point. (See note A in appendix.) They therefore sub¬ 
join a statement which they think includes every item of ex¬ 
pense, with a liberal allowance for contingencies, and to 
which they invite the severest scrutiny of practical men. 
The estimate has been submitted to the examinations of per¬ 
sons conversant with the statistics of transportation, and in 
every instance, the highest estimate of any one individual 
has been taken. The striking disparity in the cost of trans¬ 
portation to market of your coals, and any other with which 
they may come in competition, arises from the superiority of 
your communication with tide water in two respects : first, the 
cost of the respective improvements ; secondly, their capacity. 


The cost of the Lehigh Navigation, was,_$4,555,000 

“ “ “ Schuylkill, “ “ . 5,785,000 

u 11 11 Reading & Pottsville Rail Road, 11,590,000 

“ " u Ohio & Chesapeake Canal,_ 17,000,000 

While the entire cost of the Cape Fear and Deep 

River Improvements, did not amount, to_ , .400,000 





32 


Again :—The canals in which the above coals are carried 
to market, vary from three to six feet of water in depth, with 
a width not exceeding 60 feet. Deep River (so appropri¬ 
ately called,) is from 10 to 15 feet deep in its pools, and will 
average 450 feet in width. The number of locks on many 
of the Pennsylvania canals, is more than one to a mile. On 
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, there are 78 between Cum¬ 
berland and Alexandria ; on the Deep and Cape Fear rivers 
but 18. On the Deep and Cape Fear Rivers, steam power 
will be used to draw the coal barges; on the other canal 
improvements, animal power must be used; and the differ¬ 
ence between the expense of the one and the other, is as great 
as is the difference between the strength of the puny mule, 
and the giant engine. 

When your coal arrives at Smithville, it can be transported 
to New-York for $1.75 per ton, which added to 83 cents cost 
at Smithville, makes it cost at New-York $2.58 per ton. The 
selling price of bituminous coal at New-York is usually from 
$6 to $7 per ton. Should the market at New-York ever be¬ 
come glutted with bituminous coal, this company can under¬ 
sell all others, and yet make enormous profits. But the best 
markets for your coal will be at Smithville ; this place is 
situated at the outlet of Cape Fear river, directly upon the 
ocean, but protected by Smith’s Island, so as to form a secure 
harbor. Vessels can enter this harbor drawing 18 feet of 
water; it is directly in the track of the steamers that ply 
from New-York to Charleston, Savannah, New-Orleans, Tex¬ 
as, the West Indies, Mexico and Chagres. By taking on 
board a sufficient quantity of coal at New-Yerk to bring 
them to Smithville, vessels might complete their cargoes there 
at a great saving of expense. The coal would readily sell at 
Smithville at $4 per ton, yielding to the company a profit of 
at least $3. No other company can compete with your com¬ 
pany in southern markets, situated as you will be, within a 
days sail of Charleston, and within three of the island of 
Cuba. 

Anthracite Coal. 

In addition to the above Coal Field , your company own 
two several tracts of land adjoining each other, and amount¬ 
ing to eleven hundred acres, underlaid with Anthracite coal, 


33 


which compares favorably to the best anthracite coals of 
Pennsylvania. There are two beds of this coal, one of which 
overlays the other , and gives additional thickness and greater 
amount to this coal-field. 

Though the mining of this anthracite coal cannot be ren¬ 
dered as profitable as the bituminous, yet it can be mined and 
transported to Boston and the ports east of that city, at a 
greater profit than any of the Pennsylvania anthracites. 

The cost of mining and transporting a ton of bituminous 
coal from Farmersville to Smithville, as we have shown, is 
only 83 cents. If we add 15 cents as the greater expense of 
mining anthracite coal, we have our anthracite at Smithville 
at 98 cents : add transportation to Boston, 2 dollars, and we 
have $2.98 as the entire cost of the coal in Boston. 

Take the costs of the anthracites at tide water, as heretofore 


stated: 

Pequa Company , at Havre-de-Grace,_- . _ $2 05 

Add transportation to Boston,_ l 75 

-$3 80 

Cost of Deep river anthracites,_ 2 98 


Difference in favor of Deep river coal,-$0 82 

Lehigh Company , cost at tide-water,_$2 55 

Add transportation to Boston,_ 1 50 

-$4 05 

Cost of Deep river anthracite,_ 2 98 


Difference in favor of Deep river coal,..$1 07 

Delaware and Hudson , cost at tide-water,.. $2 56 

Add transportation to Boston,_ 1 50 

-$4 06 

Cost of Deep river anthracites,- 2 98 


Difference in favor of Deep river coal,-„ $1 08 

Pottsville District , cost at tide-water,-$2 85 

Add transportation to Boston,_ 1 50 

-$4 35 

Cost of Deep river anthracite,... 2 98 


Difference in favor of Deep river coal,.$1 37 
























34 


Your Directors believe they can engross the markets at Bos¬ 
ton and east of that place, with greater profits than any compa¬ 
ny who have heretofore sent anthracite coal in that direction. 

In estimating the great advantages of your locality, one 
other consideration deserves to be particularly mentioned, as 
it is entitled to great weight and consideration; which is the 
uninterrupted communication you would have, during the 
whole year , through the waters of Deep and Cape Fear rivers, 
and which are never impeded by ice. While the canals of 
Maryland and Pennsylvania are frozen up, you would find 
your best markets at the South. This circumstance alone 
would give a greatly increased value to your possessions, if 
they needed any further recommendation. 

The situation of your Coalfield, directly upon Deep 
river, which, by the accompanying map, No. 4, attached to 
the report of Prof. Johnson, is shown to wash two sides of it, 
will exempt you from the necessity of building expensive 
railroads to transport your coal to your barges, an expense 
which has subjected the mine owners at Sydney, Pictou, 
Richmond and Maryland, to enormous outlays. In estimating 
the cost at which their coals can be transported to market, 
the interest on those outlays is not always reckoned as it 
should be, and added to the cost of coal at market. 

A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THIS COMPANY Consists 
of 9S7^ acres of land at Farmersville, embracing your bitu¬ 
minous coalfield ; one-half of this is under cultivation, and 
the residue is well wooded with yellow pine and oak. Tim¬ 
ber is abundant in this vcinity, and land covered with a heavy 
growth of pine, oak, &c., can be purchased adjacent to the 
borders of Deep river, (without the coal district,) at less than 
two dollars the acre. This is a circumstance of some import¬ 
ance, in view of the expense of building steamers and barges. 

Provisions are abundant and cheap. Beef, of an excellent 
quality, can be purchased at $2.50 per one hundred pounds ; 
mutton at o7^- cents per quarter j fowls at one dollar per do¬ 
zen 5 meal 40 cents per bushel; potatoes 30 cents, and other 
articles of food in like proportion. 

The CLIMATE IS PERFECTLY HEALTHY, as much SO as 

any part of New England. The water at Farmersville, and 
at most places on Deep River, is excellent. Your location 



35 


abounds in springs of the purest water. Indeed, the county 
of Chatham is the resort of many people from the lower part 
of the State, during the prevalence of the sickly season in 
that quarter. 

Your Company have bought a depot in the city of Wil¬ 
mington, embracing part of the northern portion of that 
town, but extending to both sides of the river, with a front of 
twelve hundred and fifty feet on each side of the river. On 
the Wilmington side we have a wharf six hundred and twen¬ 
ty-five feet in length. 

We have contracted for another site for a depot, at Smith- 
ville, which has been termed the Nahant of North Carolina, 
and is as pleasant and salubrious, as that celebrated watering 
place near Boston. 

The improvements of the river will be completed by the 
first day of January next. Responsible contractors are under 
heavy bonds to finish the work by that time. 

Your Directors have engaged a skilful mining engineer, 
who will proceed to Farmersville early in April, with a num¬ 
ber of miners, carpenters and other mechanics, to commence 
operations immediately, so as to be in readiness to ship your 
coal to market as soon as the way to the ocean is opened to 
them. 

It is the opinion of Professor 'Johnson, and also of Joseph 
P. Silver, Esq., of Philadelphia, a gentleman scientifically 
and practically acquainted with the various kinds of coal, that 
the coal of Farmersville will not disintegrate, or fall into fine 
coal upon being exposed to the air, which quality will war¬ 
rant the mining in advance of the opening of the navigation. 
The above quality of great adhesiveness of its particles, gives 
it a great value over most other bituminous coals. 

Contracts will be made for building steam tugs and barges, 
in season for the transportation of the coal. A person per¬ 
fectly responsible, has offered to build the barges at our esti¬ 
mate. 

In conclusion, your Directors congratulate the Stockholders 
upon the possession of coal fields, which, when the quality 
of the mineral and its admirable locality are duly considered, 
they deem more valuable than any other with which they 
are acquainted. 









ns 









. 1 










JAN 1G !S^8 








APPENDIX. 


-» » • 

(A.) 

Estimate of the expense of mining and transporting one 
ton of coal from the Farmersville mines on Deep river, to 
Wilmington or Smithville— distance from Farmersville to 
Wilmington, 170 miles; to Smithville 200 miles. 

10 barges, at $600 is,_ $6,000 00 

1 steam tug 100 horse power,_ 8,000 00 

$14,000 00 

Wear and depreciation, and interest on steam 

tug and barges at 20 per cent per annum,_ 2,800 00 

20 men on ten barges, at $15 per month,_ 3,600 00 

Captain of steam tug, at $50 per month,_ 600 00 

Cheif Engineer on tug, at $75 per month,_ 900 00 

Assistant engineer per year,_ 600 00 

Pilot for steam tug per year,_ 360 00 

Cook for one year,_ 180 00 

4 common hands on steam tug, at $15 per month, 720 00 

Board of 29 men at $6 per month for one year,.. 2,088 00 

Oil, tow lines, (fee., for one year,_ 365 00 

20 tuns coal for each trip from the mines to Smith¬ 
ville, and back as fuel for tug steamer, at $1 per 
ton, allowing 3 trips in each month, is $60 per 

month, or $720 per year,_ 720 00 

10 barges of 120 tons each, will carry 1,200 tons 
each trip, or 3,600 tons per month, or 43,200 tons 
per year—tolls to be paid to the river improve¬ 
ment at 43,200 tons at 8c.,- 3,456 00 

Mining and stacking on the bank of the river, or 
putting on barges, 45c. per ton on 43,200 tons, is 19,440 00 


$35,829 00 



















38 


Total expense of mining and transporting 43,200 tons to 
tide water. Allowing the above estimate to be correct (which 
includes all reasonable expenditures) the cost of mining and 
delivering of one gross ton at tide water :—Wilmington or 
Smithville, is 82- i 2 - 0 - 3 o cents. 

A steam tug of 100 horse power, will tow 10 barges of 120 
tons burden, at the rate of 4 miles an hour, exclusive of the 
time required in passing locks, which is 50 hours for 200 
miles, as will be seen by the following estimate. 

It will require 10 minutes for each boat to pass each lock. 
11 boats would use 110 minutes at each lock. 16 locks 
would occupy 30 hours as stated here, makes 80 hours. Ac¬ 
cording to this estimate, it will require to go from the mines 


to Smithville, 3 days and eight hours. 

Going from and returning to the mines, 6 days 16 hours. 
Loading barges, 24 hours or one day, . . 1 day. 

Unloading barges,_ 1 day. 


One trip will require_-_-- 8 days 16 hours. 


Three trips will require 26 days, or deducting Sundays, 
29 days. 


(B.) 

The following estimate of the^cos* of Anthracite at differ¬ 
ent shipping ports at tide-water , is taken from the report of 
the Directors of the Pequa Railroad Improvement Company 


and is presumed to be correct:— 

Peq.ua Company. 

Cost of mining and delivering at Dauphin,-..-_$1 10 

Freight and toll to Havre-de-Grace,_ 95 

Cost at tide-water,_$2 05 

Lehigh Company. 

Cost of mining and delivering at Mauch Chunk, .. $1 10 
Freight and toll to Bristol,_ 1 45 

Cost at tide-water,_$2 55 













39 


Delaware and Hudson Company. 

Cost of mining and delivering at Hondesdale,.-.. $ 1 16 \ 
Freight and toll to Rondout,... 140 


Cost at tide-water,___$2 561 

Pottsville District. 

Cost of mining and delivering at Mount Carbon, $1 29 

Freight and toll to Richmond and Philadelphia, 1 65 


Cost at tide-water,_$2 85 


It will be borne in mind that the above coals are all anthra¬ 
cites, and are not worth so much in New-York markets as 
the bituminous coal, by about $2 per ton. 

The cost of mining and transporting the Maryland coal to 


Alexandria at tide-water, is_$3 00 

Against 83 cents for the Deep river coal,_ 83 

Making a difference in favor of Deep river coal,_$2 17 


This is the coal with which ours will come in competition 
in the New-York markets. Our coal is now in that city, and 
we invite a comparison of it with any other bituminous coal. 


(C.) 

The Nonentum, a Boston ship, loaded at Baltimore with 
Maryland coal. 

The Symetry, 1,000 tons burden, with 1,200 tons coal, also 
loaded at Baltimore with Maryland coal. 

The Humayon, a Scotch ship> from Dundee. 

See the letter of Mrs. Bates, published in the New-York 
Daily Tribune, March 50, 1851. 

A few years since, an English Steamer in the Mediterrane¬ 
an sea, took fire from the spontaneous combustion of her coal, 
and was entirely consumed. 


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